Politics on the Hudson

Three dissident Democrats agreed today to back Malcolm Smith for majority leader, cementing the shift in control of the state Senate from Republican to Democrat next month for the first time since 1966, one of the dissidents said.

Sen. Carl Kruger, D-Brooklyn, said he and the other two members of the “gang of three’’ – Bronx Democrats Pedro Espada and Reuben Diaz – agreed to back Smith after meeting with him today.

“A resolution making Sen.  Smith the majority leader will gain our support,’’ Kruger said.

That will give the Democrats 32 votes – the minimum they need to control the 62-seat chamber.

A Smith spokesman issued a statement saying that the meeting today “resolved rules changes proposed by Sen. Smith and will result in the election of Sen.  Malcolm Smith as leader.’’

Details on the rules changes were sketchy, although Kruger said they will make the Senate “perhaps the most bipartisan house in the country.’’ He also said that Hispanic lawmakers will be given significant leadership responsibilities.