After two special election wins on Tuesday night for Democrats, the party has the majority in the state Senate.
However, state Sen. Simcha Felder, a Brooklyn Democrat who caucuses with the Republicans, announced that he will continue to do so, according to The New York Times, giving the Republicans a 32-31 edge.
Shelley Mayer, a Democrat, won a heated race in Westchester County’s District 37 against Republican Julie Killian to fill the seat vacated by Democrat George Latimer.
Luis Sepulveda, a Democrat, won his seat in New York City’s District 32 against Patrick Delices, a Republican, and Pamela Stewart-Martinez, an independent.
There were also nine seats at stake in the state Assembly in the special election.
Only one was in Nassau County, in the 17th Assembly District, where John Mikulin’s win kept Republican control after the resignation of Thomas McKevitt to become a Nassau County legislator.
Also on Long Island, former Suffolk County Legislator Steve Stern became the first Democrat in 40 years to win the 10th Assembly District seat in Huntington, according to Newsday.
Stern will fill the seat vacated by Republican Huntington Town Supervisor Chad Lupinacci.
The state Assembly, which already had a Democratic majority, didn’t see a change in party power.
However, Assemblyman Chuck Lavine (D-Glen Cove) had said before the election results that the special elections could reflect voter disapproval with the GOP.
“In the event that the Democrats do win, and the turn out is impressive, that will send a strong message that people are civically engaged again,” Lavine said. “It will be a message that Americans and New Yorkers are not satisfied [and] certainly not secure in Republican leadership on the national level.”
