State Senate Party maverick Simcha Felder (D-Boro Park, Flatbush, Kensington, Sunset Park, Bensonhurst) is standing pat to return to the Democratic Party fold despite the Democrats now the ruling the senate, and a personal plea from Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Felder said yesterday that even if the Democrats won two special elections, he would remain part of the Republican caucus at least through the state legislative session, which ends in June.
As it turned out, the Dems won both of yesterday’s elections, giving them a slim 32-31 majority. Felder remains the one pivotal member of the Democratic party needed for the party to take over majority in the state senate.
“With only 25 days remaining in this year’s legislative session, I believe it is my obligation to prevent an unprecedented and uncertain late session political battle that will only hurt my constituents and New Yorkers. Therefore, regardless of which candidates prevail in today’s elections, I will continue to caucus with the [Republican] majority coalition. This issue is best resolved outside of the legislative session and I look forward to revisiting it after session,” said Felder.
Following the Democratic win, Cuomo jumped into the fray with a personal letter released publicly to Felder noting how his rejoining the Democratic fold will allow the party to move forward with their progressive agenda. In the letter Cuomo also noted how the former eight-member Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) in the senate recently joined the mainstream Democratic conference for the sake of unity.
“The IDC has unified, and while I understand that you conference as a Republican and run on multiple lines, you are registered as a Democrat. You have said that you act in the best interest of your constituents. For their benefit, now is the time that matters. I know what you said yesterday, but this morning brings a new reality,” wrote Cuomo.
With only six weeks left in the legislative session, Cuomo is hoping that a Democratic majority could bring about significant legislative changes to state election laws, gun safety measures, rent laws, reproductive rights and immigration policies.
“There is much to be proud of, but with a Democratic Senate, we could do even more. There are issues we need to address that the Republicans in the Senate refused to act upon or even bring to the floor for a vote,” added Cuomo.
Cuomo, who is facing a re-election primary challenger in Cynthia Nixon, cut a deal earlier this month, with the Democratic party, including disbanding the IDC, for their support in the upcoming primary election on Sept. 13.
If given the majority, Democrats will hold the majority in both chambers of the legislature including the lower assembly chamber that is overwhelmingly blue.
“There is a new Democratic movement in this state and a new Democratic Senate Conference. We have come a long way. The New York Democratic Party is a new model of Democratic leadership. In this state, Democrats are no longer about just offering dreams but a party of dreamers and doers – a powerful combination. Let me say that the Democratic Conference will not need you in November the way they need you now,” wrote Cuomo to Felder.
Felder spokesperson Sheri Toiv said the senator has no response to the governor’s letter.
Felder is facing his own challenger in this year’s primary in the form of Blake Morris, a liberal progressive with roots in Ditmas Park. Win-or-lose in the primary, Felder could still head into the general election with staunch GOP support, as two years ago he held both the Republican and Democratic line.
