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Eugene

(61,949 posts) Sun Jul 7, 2019, 02:19 PM Jul 2019

New York Senate: Wayward Democrats Return, but Are Still Under Fire

Source: New York Times

Wayward Democrats Return, but Are Still Under Fire

For the first time in six years, every Democrat in the New York State Senate is working with the Democratic conference. But they are likely to face re-election challenges from the left.

By Vivian Wang and Jesse McKinley
July 7, 2019

They say you can never go home again, but some of New York’s most infamous Democrats are hoping that’s wrong.

For six years, an ever-flexible number of Democratic state senators — sometimes five, sometimes nine, sometimes just one — gained notoriety and power by defecting from their party to work with the Republicans. Those defections helped the Republicans stay in power, despite sometimes holding a numerical minority.

Last week, the last rogue Democrat, Senator Simcha Felder of Brooklyn, rejoined the Democratic fold, bringing all of the Senate’s registered Democrats into one conference for the first time since 2013. With Mr. Felder’s re-entry, the Democrats now control 40 seats in the Senate — two short of a supermajority.

For the Democratic Party, it was the end of a dubious era in Albany, where the defections were held up as further proof of the Capitol’s reputation for dysfunction and self-interest.

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5 replies

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Highlight:

New York Senate: Wayward Democrats Return, but Are Still Under Fire (Original Post) Eugene Jul 2019 OP

Left re-election challenges? Dems desperately need a big tent, for larger reasons empedocles Jul 2019 #1

Those Wayward Dems Are Only Coming Back Because They Think It's In Their Best Interests Me. Jul 2019 #2

It is what it is. pecosbob Jul 2019 #3

Many Of Their Constituents Kicked Them Out In '18 Me. Jul 2019 #4

Here Is What Happened In '18 Me. Jul 2019 #5

empedocles

(15,751 posts)

1. Left re-election challenges? Dems desperately need a big tent, for larger reasons

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Sun Jul 7, 2019, 02:23 PM

Jul 2019

than various aspirations.

Me.

(35,454 posts)

2. Those Wayward Dems Are Only Coming Back Because They Think It's In Their Best Interests

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Sun Jul 7, 2019, 02:31 PM

Jul 2019

They have no interest in good governance. They were the reason most of the progressive bills the citizens of NY State wanted never had a chance. Especially Felder whose only concern is what is good for his orthodox community. And sadly, that is not a community that wants progressive ideas, or even equality in some instances, to move forward. They need to be watched because IMHO, they cannot be trusted. I hope the DEms remember how these people betrayed them and not be fooled by their self-serving move back into the conference.

pecosbob

(7,543 posts)

3. It is what it is.

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Sun Jul 7, 2019, 02:33 PM

Jul 2019

It their constituents return them to office, cool. If not, they brought it on themselves with their voting records.

*Just a little political tip for you Reps...you don't actually have to caucus with the Nazis just to be a blue dog.

Me.

(35,454 posts)

4. Many Of Their Constituents Kicked Them Out In '18

Reply to pecosbob (Reply #3)

Sun Jul 7, 2019, 02:44 PM

Jul 2019

which is how Dems regain the power they should've had given how the citizens voted. As for the others, who were able to retain their seat, they barely did so.

Me.

(35,454 posts)

5. Here Is What Happened In '18

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Sun Jul 7, 2019, 02:54 PM

Jul 2019

New York voters reject some Democrats who broke off to give state Senate control to the Republicans
They were punished in their Democratic primaries.

“Democratic voters got payback in the New York state primary on Thursday against some of the renegade Democrats who broke away from their party and allied themselves with Republicans in New York’s state Senate.

Six of the eight members of the now-disbanded Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) have lost against more progressive challengers. That includes the powerful leader of the group, Sen. Jeff Klein (D-Bronx), who was unseated by challenger Alessandra Biaggi, a lawyer who worked on Hillary Clinton’s campaign. …

That happened days before a special election, which could have tipped the balance of power back to the Democrats for real. But one rogue Democrat — Simcha Felder — decided to stick with the Republicans, leaving the Democrats one vote shy of the majority. (Felder isn’t considered a member of the IDC.)

But voters had already started to take notice of these rogue Democrats’ antics amid the wave of progressive activism after the 2016 election. Activists began targeting these legislators with the campaign #NoIDCNY to push these rogue Democrats out of office. Candidates stepped up to challenge them in the state primaries — winning some high-profile endorsements that added heft to their campaigns.”

https://www.vox.com/2018/9/13/17858140/new-york-idc-independent-democratic-conference-state-senate-republicans

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