ALBANY -- It looks like the Republicans are back in power in the New York State Senate. It 's a bitter day for Democrats who had been out of power for 40 years, before finally winning a slim majority of seats in 2008.
But 2010 is a very different year. With Antoine Thompson's concession last week, and Republican Jack Martins victory this weekend, Suzi Oppenheimer's victory over her Republican challenger was simply too little too late for Senate Democrats who have watched their majority slip away…
Senator Neil Breslin, D-Delmar, the 46th Senate District says, "I didn't expect to go back to the minority after two years but in many respects the dems brought it on themselves."
The feeling among upstate Democrats runs the gamut from anger to resignation. Among some of the the GOP's old guard, there is a sense of relief.
Siena College Professor Leonard Cutler, Ph.D. and Former Republican Senate Staffer says, "What I saw during the past 2 years was total gridlock it was an embarrassment to State of New York. We were the net losers"
Cutler says single party rule didn't work in New York. But it remains to be seen if the Republicans can be reformers while at the same time closing the almost $10 billion budget gap.
Don't feel to concerned for the Democrats though; they still have an enormous voter enrollment advantage in the State, which will help as both houses of the legislature move toward redistricting.
