State Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins was elected minority leader of the state Senate this evening, Gannett’s Albany Bureau has learned.
In a private 19-6 vote, the Yonkers Democrat was selected by her colleagues to lead the Senate Democrats, a conference that made big gains on Election Day only to be relegated to the minority after Republicans and the breakaway Independent Democratic Conference struck a power-sharing agreement.
Stewart-Cousins has served in the state Senate since 2007 after she ousted longtime incumbent Sen. Nick Spano, R-Yonkers. She succeeds current Senate Minority Leader John Sampson, D-Brooklyn, who has led the conference since 2009.
An official announcement from Senate Democrats has not yet been made. Stewart-Cousins could not immediately be reached for comment.
UPDATED: Senate Democrats made it official around 7:15 p.m.
Stewart-Cousins issued this statement:
“I am truly humbled and honored to be selected by my colleagues for this position. I look forward to advocating for the progressive agenda that the people of New York have demanded. I will work with my colleagues in the Republican and IDC Coalition to ensure that the progressive issues that both the Governor and our conference believe in are advanced. I want to thank Senator Sampson for all his hard work and his dedication to the Senate Democratic Conference and to the people of New York.”
4 Comments
Today history was made in New York and South Carolina.
One a solid “Blue’ State the other a solid “Red” State
Lets all wish them the best in their new rolls.
One as the Leader of the “Regular” Senate Democ”RATS” the other as a Newest Republican Member of the US Senate.
Both will be under the looking glass and have to “Run” for re-election in 2014.
Before there was the “Oracle of Delphi” there was Count Vampire J. Machiavelli
VJ Machiavelli
http://www.VJMachiavelli.blogspot.com
Power to the People who “VOTE”
A good choice for the SenDems
Anything is better than Sampson, but this is not much better.
Finally, the Democrats have a grown-up in the room! Way to go Andrea! Best of Luck in your new role.