See also:
55-664: The Independent Democratic Conference ( IDC ) was a group of several Democratic members of the New York State Senate that was formed to caucus with the Republican Party and protect its status as the majority party. At the time of its dissolution, the IDC included eight members: Jeffrey D. Klein , Marisol Alcantara , Tony Avella , David Carlucci , Jesse Hamilton , Jose Peralta , Diane Savino , and David Valesky . Klein, Savino, Valesky, and Carlucci formed
110-483: A Long Island company in return for favorable legislation. The new indictment charged that Skelos procured a position for his son at a medical malpractice insurance company with business before the state, that Adam Skelos was not qualified for the position, that Adam Skelos threatened his supervisor, and that Adam Skelos asserted that "he didn't need to show up to work because his father was the Majority Leader of
165-516: A deadlocked 31–31 Senate, causing the 2009 New York State Senate leadership crisis , which ended when Espada returned to the Democratic conference. Jeffrey D. Klein , who became the deputy majority leader after the 2008 elections, was charged with keeping Espada, Diaz, Kruger, and Monserrate in the Democratic coalition. Republicans won control of the chamber in the November 2010 elections . In
220-486: A meeting called by Governor Andrew Cuomo at which Cuomo requested that the IDC reunite with the Senate Democratic Conference. On April 16, the IDC was dissolved. Following the purported dissolution of the IDC, Avella, Alcantara, Carlucci and Hamilton were all stripped of their committee chairships by Senate Majority Leader John J. Flanagan . In addition, 39 IDC staffers were laid off, and Klein
275-520: A second conviction on July 17, 2018. Skelos was sentenced to four years and three months in prison, and he began his prison term in January 2019. In April 2020, Skelos tested positive for COVID-19 and was released from prison to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest . Skelos was born on February 16, 1948, in Rockville Centre, New York , the oldest of four children. He is
330-589: A senate roll-call vote on the Marriage Equality Act , which narrowly passed the Senate in a 33–29 vote. In a statement made prior to the vote, he said: "This is a very difficult issue and it will be a vote of conscience for every member of the Senate." In 2013, as Senate Majority Leader, Skelos was responsible for suspending Senate rules and bringing the NY SAFE Act (a firearm-related bill) to
385-472: A wiretapped conversation was played where Skelos argued that the Republicans' power sharing agreement gave the IDC no real power and it would serve to hinder Democrats by keeping them divided. Klein indicated that this recording would not change the IDC agreement with Republicans. After some of its members faced primary challenges in 2014, the IDC formed its own campaign committee through an agreement with
440-620: Is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in the U.S. state of New York . Its headquarters are in Manhattan , and it has an office in Albany . It is currently the dominant party in the state, controlling the majority of New York's U.S. House seats, both U.S. Senate seats, both houses of the state legislature , and the governorship . The three Democratic presidents who were from New York are Franklin D. Roosevelt (32nd) who
495-530: The Independence Party of New York . Heading into the November 2016 elections , Klein would not commit to rejoining the Senate Democratic Conference. After the elections, newly elected senator Marisol Alcantara and second-term senator Jesse Hamilton joined the IDC. Despite pressure from liberal activists to unite the 24 mainstream Democrats with the IDC and Felder to form a 32-member majority, and despite attempts by Stewart-Cousins to involve Cuomo in
550-596: The New York City Council to succeed retiring Democrat Paul Vallone . He won the Democratic primary, but lost the general election to Republican Vickie Paladino . In February 2022, Staten Island Advance reported that Savino, the last remaining IDC member in the New York State Senate, would not seek re-election in 2022. New York State Democratic Committee [REDACTED] [REDACTED] The New York State Democratic Party
605-630: The New York State Assembly and later represented the Ninth District in the New York State Senate from 1985 through 2015. He served as Senate Majority Leader in 2008 and again from 2011 to 2015. Skelos forfeited his Senate seat when he was convicted on federal corruption charges in 2015. In 2017, his conviction was overturned following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in McDonnell v. United States . His retrial resulted in
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#1732772707959660-671: The November 2012 elections , Democrats won a majority of seats in the State Senate. Following the election, the IDC formed a bipartisan coalition with the Senate Republican Conference that enabled the two conferences to control the Senate despite the Democrats' numerical majority. Under their power-sharing arrangement, the IDC and the Senate Republicans agreed to " decide what bills [would] reach
715-510: The U.S. Senate . Democrats have controlled both of New York's seats in the U.S. Senate since 1998 : NYS Democrats control all four of the elected statewide offices and NYS Cabinet and Departmental Head positions (e.g., New York State Department of Health, NYS Secretary of State, NYS Department of Corrections, New York State Office of People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, NYS Office of General Services, NYS Department of Education) and
770-484: The 2014 general election, Republicans won back the majority. The election results meant that Klein lost his position as co-leader, with Skelos taking over as the Senate Majority Leader and Temporary President of the Senate and regaining sole control over which bills would reach the Senate floor. Though the new Democratic leader, Andrea Stewart-Cousins , held discussions with Klein about the IDC rejoining
825-627: The Democratic primary elections in September 2014, with Oliver Koppell challenging Klein and John Liu challenging Avella. Due to pressure from Governor Andrew Cuomo and labor unions , Klein indicated in June 2014 that the IDC would rejoin the Democratic caucus after the November 2014 elections . Still, the IDC supported Betty Jean Grant 's unsuccessful primary challenge against Timothy M. Kennedy because of Grant's pro-choice political stance. Klein and Avella won their respective primaries. In
880-548: The Democrats, the IDC members decided to remain allied with the Republicans in the 2015 legislative session despite their conference's diminished role. During the 2015 session, the IDC successfully pushed the Republicans to include paid family leave and a $ 15 per hour minimum wage in the state budget . Klein also pushed for more funding to the New York City Housing Authority , and obtained $ 100 million. During Skelos' 2015 trial for corruption,
935-535: The Governor's Office. As of 2019, Democrats control the mayor's offices in nine of New York's ten largest cities: Christine Callaghan Quinn (born July 25, 1966) is an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party , she formerly served as the Speaker of the New York City Council . The third person to hold this office, she is the first female and first openly gay speaker. As City Council speaker, Quinn
990-552: The IDC dissolved, its members rejoined the Senate Democratic Conference, and Klein would become the Deputy Democratic Conference Leader in April 2018. In the subsequent Democratic primaries in September, six of the eight former IDC members were defeated; only Carlucci and Savino won their respective primary contests. In 2020, Carlucci opted not to seek re-election to the senate and instead ran to succeed
1045-433: The IDC earned him the enmity of both progressive and more moderate Democrats. Pro-choice groups devoted money and resources to opposing his bid, as during his period in the state senate he had helped block pro-abortion legislation. Carlucci's campaign began to falter as time went on, suffering from poor fundraising and a lack of prominent endorsements, and he finished fourth in the Democratic primary. In 2022, Avella ran for
1100-438: The IDC for splitting the Democratic vote in the State Senate and enabling Republicans to maintain control of the chamber. In early May 2017, it was revealed that members of the IDC, among them Savino and Peralta, received stipends normally reserved only for chairmen of committees, who, in these cases, were Republicans. The payments appear to have been approved by Republican leadership in the state senate. It later emerged that this
1155-485: The IDC in 2011 due to disagreements with John L. Sampson , the Democratic leader in the New York State Senate. The IDC allied itself with Senate Republicans throughout its existence. During the 2013–14 legislative session, the IDC and the Senate Republican Conference controlled the Senate jointly, as the Senate Republicans did not have sufficient numbers to form a governing majority on their own. After negotiations with Governor Andrew Cuomo , who had previously supported it,
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#17327727079591210-563: The Minority Leader of the State Senate. On January 5, 2011, Klein, along with three other Democratic senators ( Diane Savino , David Valesky , and David Carlucci ), announced the formation of a caucus within the state senate called the Independent Democratic Conference. The four senators indicated that they no longer approved of Sampson's leadership. Klein claimed that, unlike the Democrats who left
1265-669: The Republican and Conservative Party lines, defeated Berman, the Democratic and Liberal parties' candidate, in a three-way race, winning 53% of the vote (49,761) to 43.7% (41,005). Right-to-Life party candidate Joan McDermott received 3.2% (2,967) of the vote. From 1995 to 2008, Skelos was Deputy Majority Leader of the New York State Senate. In 2008, he became the Majority Leader of the New York State Senate after Joseph Bruno stepped down from that post. On June 24, 2011, Skelos voted against allowing same-sex marriage in New York during
1320-528: The Republicans. In December 2012, the IDC recruited Malcolm Smith to join its ranks. This move was part of a failed attempt by Smith to secure the Republican Party nomination in the New York City mayoral election ; Smith was indicted on federal corruption charges, which led to his expulsion from the IDC on April 14, 2013, and his eventual conviction. On February 26, 2014, Tony Avella left
1375-555: The Right-to-Life Party candidate, received 2,520 votes in the three-way race. In 1984, Skelos challenged Berman in a rematch. This time, Skelos, who had President Ronald Reagan visit the district and campaign for him, narrowly defeated Berman in a two-way race, winning by 50.7% to 49.3% (67,834 to 65,875 votes). Skelos represented Senate District Nine from 1985 to 2015. In 1986, Berman challenged Skelos in their third consecutive state senate contest. Skelos, running on
1430-556: The Senate Democratic Conference to join the IDC. Governor Andrew Cuomo was actively involved in the formation of the conference, encouraging it to maintain Republican leadership of the chamber and providing tactical advice in order to keep more liberal New York City Democrats out of power. Liberal activists working with the Democratic Party and the Working Families Party targeted Klein and Avella during
1485-429: The Senate floor each day of the session", would "dole out committee assignments", would "have the power to make appointments to state and local boards", and would "share negotiations over the state budget". Klein and Skelos also agreed that the title of Senate President would shift back and forth between the two of them every two weeks. Additionally, Simcha Felder , a Democratic senator-elect, announced he would caucus with
1540-623: The Senate floor. He voted for the SAFE Act and advocated its passage. On May 4, 2015, Skelos was arrested on federal corruption charges. On May 11, he stepped down from his position as Senate Majority Leader. Skelos was convicted on December 11, 2015; he was automatically expelled from the Senate due to his conviction. Skelos and his son, Adam Skelos, were arrested and charged with six counts of corruption by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara on May 4, 2015. The criminal complaint included extortion , fraud , and bribe solicitation charges. Skelos
1595-515: The Senate on May 11, 2015; he had already begun a leave of absence from the law firm of Ruskin Moscou Faltischek. "The criminal complaint against him said he had earned $ 2.6 million there since 1994, despite apparently doing no actual legal work; he was paid instead for referring clients, some of whom had business before the state." In July 2015, in an expanded indictment, federal prosecutors added two new charges of soliciting bribes from
1650-475: The Skeloses, as there was enough evidence to establish that there had been a quid pro quo arrangement in each of the schemes at issue. The retrial of Skelos and his son began on June 19, 2018. During the retrial, in contrast to the first trial, Skelos took the witness stand and testified in his own defense. On July 17, 2018, Skelos and his son were found guilty of eight felonies. On October 23, 2018, Skelos
1705-664: The State Senate for some years after that, but Democrats gained a decisive advantage in the chamber in 2018 and 2020 . In August 2021, Jay Jacobs of the committee was the one to tell Andrew Cuomo to resign as New York governor over reports of sexual harassment, then supported Cuomo's successor Kathy Hochul . As of 2022, the NY Democratic Party was described as having "dominance" in New York politics, as it largely controlled political positions in Albany, and Republicans had not won statewide since 2002. As of August 2022
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1760-423: The State Senate". On December 11, 2015, a unanimous jury convicted Dean and Adam Skelos of all eight counts of bribery, extortion, and corruption. Dean Skelos was convicted of using his position in the Senate to benefit three companies—a real estate developer, an environmental technology company, and a medical malpractice insurer—in exchange for the companies' agreement to give work to his son. Prosecutors said that
1815-464: The boundaries of the 9th Senate District, which previously included parts of Nassau and Queens County. The new district, drawn by Senate Republicans, was entirely within Nassau County and favored Republicans. Skelos was endorsed by the Republican and Conservative parties. Berman, running on the Democratic Party and Liberal Party lines, won the race by 6,108 votes (55,504 to 49,396). Matthew Doyle,
1870-427: The chair of the committee was Jay S. Jacobs. He was reelected chairman in September 2022. The Executive Committee is chaired by former New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn . The Executive Director is Alexander Wang. The following is a list of elected statewide and federal Democratic officeholders: Democrats hold 16 of New York's 26 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and both of New York's seats in
1925-457: The conference in the 2009 leadership crisis, the IDC was concerned with legislation that a Democratic majority did not pass, such as marriage equality . As the majority and minority leaders gave out committee assignments, the IDC was disappointed when Sampson offered the IDC members minor roles on committees. Klein reached out to Dean Skelos , the Republican leader, and Skelos agreed to give the four members chairmanships of standing committees. In
1980-524: The conference join with the "mainstream" Democratic Conference completely or in a coalition. On May 24, 2017, Felder urged the IDC to rejoin the mainline Democrats, and suggested that he might rejoin the Democratic Conference as well. On April 4, 2018, the IDC announced that it would dissolve, its members would rejoin the Senate Democratic Conference, and that Klein would become the Deputy Democratic Conference Leader. The announcement followed
2035-481: The court reversed the corruption conviction of a former Virginia Governor. On September 26, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit vacated the convictions of the Skeloses and ordered a retrial, arguing that the district judge had given the jury improper instructions. However the panel wrote that the government's evidence appeared to be sufficient to allow a properly instructed jury to convict
2090-522: The early 1960s, funneling federal patronage through New York City mayor Robert F. Wagner Jr. to the detriment of state chair Michael H. Prendergast. In 1974, Democrats benefited from Republican problems stemming from the Watergate scandal , winning control of the New York State Assembly and electing a governor, Hugh Carey . Democrats have controlled the Assembly ever since. Republicans controlled
2145-819: The eight former members of the IDC to return all contributions they had received from the Senate Independence Campaign Committee. In the Democratic Party primary elections held on September 13, 2018, all eight former members of the IDC at the time of its dissolution faced challengers. Six were defeated, attributed to backlash against the former IDC: John Liu defeated Avella, Robert Jackson defeated Alcantara, Alessandra Biaggi defeated Klein, Jessica Ramos defeated Peralta, Zellnor Myrie defeated Hamilton, and Rachel May defeated Valesky. Carlucci and Savino won renomination. As part of New York's electoral fusion laws allowing candidates to run on multiple ballot lines in an election, each of
2200-489: The fallout, Democrats replaced Klein as their chief strategist in December 2010. State Senator David Valesky feared that the Republican leadership and the independent redistricting committee was going to gerrymander his district in upstate New York to weaken his supporters' voting ability in the 2013 State Senate Election. Klein stepped down as deputy minority leader in January 2011, citing disagreements with John L. Sampson ,
2255-401: The first time since 1964, winning 32 out of the chambers' 62 seats. However, four Democratic senators, Pedro Espada Jr. , Rubén Díaz Sr. , Carl Kruger , and Hiram Monserrate did not support the Democratic leader, Malcolm Smith . When the senators convened in the new session to elect a majority leader, Espada and Monserrate voted against Smith. Monserrate later rejoined the Democrats, leaving
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2310-745: The grandson of a Greek immigrant . Skelos graduated from Washington College in Maryland with a B.A. in history in 1970 and earned a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law in 1975. Skelos was of counsel to Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C., from 1994 through 2015. Skelos was automatically disbarred in 2016 following a felony conviction. Skelos was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1980. After one Assembly term, Skelos ran for State Senate in 1982, challenging incumbent Democratic-Liberal New York State Senator Carol Berman . The reapportionment earlier that year changed
2365-507: The primary election; Avella was the only one to announce that he would continue to run in the general election. Although Avella appeared on the Women's Equality Party ballot line, after his primary loss to John Liu, the party, created by Governor Cuomo, announced that it was supporting Liu instead. In the November general election, all six were defeated by the same challengers who had done so in
2420-1142: The primary; Carlucci and Savino were reelected. Carlucci did not run for reelection in 2020 in order to run for Congress, but lost in that primary, leaving only Savino in the Senate. Candidate Challenger(s) Avella: 47.7% Challenger win Peralta: 45.2% Challenger win Hamilton: 46.0% Challenger win Brandon Stradford Robinson: 20.4% Stradford: 12.1% Incumbent win Tirso Santiago Pina Thomas Leon Alcantara: 38.3% Santiago Pina: 4.0% Leon: 1.5% Challenger win Klein: 45.7% Challenger win Goldberg: 46.1% Incumbent win Valesky: 48.2% Challenger win In 2020, Carlucci opted not to seek re-election to
2475-413: The retiring Nita Lowey as the U.S. representative for New York's 17th congressional district ; he finished fourth in the Democratic primary. Savino chose not to seek re-election in 2022. She left office in 2023, leaving no former IDC members in the New York State Senate. The Democratic Party took control of the New York State Senate from the Republican Party in the November 2008 elections for
2530-478: The senate and instead ran to succeed the retiring Nita Lowey as the U.S. representative for New York's 17th congressional district . He attacked the other candidates running, accusing them of being carpetbaggers . Carlucci was felt to be a formidable candidate, as he was considered to have a lock on support from voters west of the Hudson River , which bisects the district. However, his past association with
2585-530: The situation, the IDC and Felder continued their relationships with the 31 Senate Republicans, giving Republicans the majority in the 2017 legislative session. In January 2017, Jose Peralta joined the IDC. Following the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States in November 2016, the Senate Democratic Conference and grassroots activists (including members of Rise and Resist and several Indivisible groups) stepped up their criticism of
2640-545: The six defeated IDC candidates appeared on the ballot for the November general election on at least one third-party line. All six were endorsed by the Independence Party of New York ; Avella, Valesky, Hamilton and Peralta were endorsed by the Women's Equality Party of New York , and Peralta was endorsed by the Reform Party of New York State . However, most of the six defeated senators suspended their reelection campaigns after
2695-461: The three businesses provided Adam Skelos with about $ 300,000 and other benefits. The trial verdict automatically terminated Dean Skelos from the state legislature. On May 12, 2016, U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood sentenced Dean Skelos to five years in prison, and Adam Skelos to six-and-a-half years in prison. Wood allowed both to remain free on bail pending appeals based on the U.S. Supreme Court 's decision in McDonnell v. United States , in which
2750-413: Was New York City's third most powerful public servant, behind the mayor and public advocate. She ran to succeed Michael Bloomberg as the city's mayor in the 2013 mayoral election , but she came in third in the Democratic primary. Dean Skelos Dean George Skelos (born February 16, 1948) is an American former politician and convict from Long Island, New York. A Republican , Skelos served in
2805-561: Was accused of taking official actions to benefit a small Arizona environmental company, AbTech Industries, and a large New York developer, Glenwood Management , that had financial ties to AbTech. According to the complaint, Senator Skelos agreed to do so as long as the companies paid his son. On May 28, 2015, Skelos and his son were indicted by a federal grand jury on six counts of bribery, extortion, wire fraud , and conspiracy. After his arrest, Skelos asserted that he and his son were innocent. He stepped down from his majority leader post in
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#17327727079592860-481: Was also made possible through the actions of staff who falsely listed the members of the IDC as committee chairmen. The scandal was investigated by the New York Attorney General's Office and the U.S. Attorney for Brooklyn; as of March 2018 (roughly a year later) the status of that inquiry was not known. At the time, the members of the IDC continued to refuse attempts by the Democratic Party to have
2915-543: Was required to move out of his office suite and relinquish his state vehicle. Despite their return to the Senate Democratic Conference, all eight former members of the IDC faced challengers in the 2018 Democratic primaries. In June 2018, a trial court judge found the IDC's fundraising arrangement with the Independence Party illegal. On July 20, 2018, the New York State Board of Elections directed
2970-674: Was sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison. Judge Wood suggested that he had been unrepentant and that parts of his testimony were outright false. Adam Skelos was sentenced to a four-year prison term. Dean Skelos reported to the Federal Correctional Institute in Otisville , Orange County, New York to begin his prison term on January 8, 2019. Under New York State law, Skelos continued to draw his annual pension of nearly $ 100,000 while in prison. Skelos tested positive for COVID-19 in April 2020 and
3025-575: Was the governor of New York from 1929 to 1932, Grover Cleveland (22nd and 24th) who was the governor from 1883 to 1885, and Martin Van Buren (eighth) who was the governor in 1829. Van Buren is also the only Democratic vice president who was from New York. Active Defunct Journals TV channels Websites Other In the early 20th century when New York was without a Democratic governor, county leaders controlled nominations and campaign finances. President John F. Kennedy got involved in
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