It appears a breakaway group of Democrats in the State Senate led by Jeff Klein of the Bronx is on the verge of re-unifying with the mainstream Democratic conference.
After 7 years. reports now indicate eight downstate Democrats, led by Sen. Jeff Klein of the Bronx, are now poised to dissolve their independent conference and return to the fold. Daily News says as part of the deal, Klein will become the number 2 Democrat in the Senate under Andrea Stewart-Cousins.
The paper says the IDC has been under increasing pressure to break its coalition with the Republicans ever since the election of Donald Trump. Gov. Cuomo is said to be under equal pressure to re-unite the two factions.
The deal does not, at this point, include a ninth breakaway Democrat, Sen. Simcha Felder of Brooklyn, who has been caucusing with the Republicans over the last few years.
Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan has said he expects the GOP to retain its majority after a special election to fill two seats later this month.
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