NY Senate Faction Vows to Return to Democrats

ALBANY (AP) —

The leader of a faction of renegade Democrats in New York’s state Senate says his group wants to return to the Democratic fold, a move that would likely wrest Senate control away from Republicans.

Senate Co-Leader Jeff Klein said Wednesday that the five members of his Independent Democratic Conference will work to form a new coalition with Democrats after the fall elections.

Klein’s group broke away from the main Democratic conference and two years ago joined with Senate Republicans to create a majority coalition and leave Democrats in the minority.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio helped pressure the faction to return. Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins says a unified Democratic majority will make liberal priorities easier to pass.

Democrats already control the state Assembly.

To Read The Full Story

Are you already a subscriber?
Click to log in!