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Governor Cuomo Could Influence the Future Control of NYS Senate

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-993195.mp3

Albany, NY – Governor Andrew Cuomo endorsed Democratic candidates literally at both ends of the state- in Suffolk County, on Eastern Long Island, and in Erie County, which encompasses Buffalo in Western New York. Both candidates won. Capitol Correspondent Karen DeWitt sifts through the tea leaves of this year's local elections to see what, if anything, they portend for the statewide races in 2012...

The Democrat who ran for county executive in Suffolk County and who was endorsed by Governor Cuomo, won in a landslide. Steve Bellone replaces the retiring Democrat turned Republican Steve Levy, who ran for governor briefly, and dropped a bid for re election as Suffolk County executive after facing a criminal probe over fundraising.

In Erie County, where Cuomo also backed the Democratic candidate, the race was much closer. Democrat Mark Polancarz squeaked by incumbent Republican Chris Collins. Cuomo's pick for Mayor of Yonkers, Mike Spano, also won.

Steve Greenberg, a political analyst who is also a spokesman for Siena College polls, says the while Cuomo's name likely helped, especially in the closer races, it was not the only factor in the victories. He says the governor's backing did help energize the party faithful and get them to the polls.

"The governor's popularity and his leadership of the democratic party makes a big difference in rallying democratic troops," said Greenberg.

In addition to lending his name, Cuomo also lent Polancarz one of his top political advisers, Jennifer Cunningham, a consultant who previously was a high ranking official in the health care workers union SEIU 1199. The governor also convinced Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown to endorse Polancarz, which helped turn out in city neighborhoods.

Greenberg says the governor now has two key allies in the furthest reaches of the state, the influential New York City suburbs, and the county that includes the largest upstate city, Buffalo.

"He now has a Democratic county executive in Suffolk and Erie counties where previously there were Republican county executives," said Greenberg, who says that will make it easier for Cuomo to carry out government policies, as well as build a base for his re-election efforts in 2014.

Before the statewide elections in three years, comes the 2012 races, when all 212 state legislators are up for election. Cuomo could potentially influence the future control of the State Senate, which is currently held by Republicans by a one vote margin. But Greenberg says control of the Senate could be determined much sooner than the fall campaigns.

The legislature is currently working on plans to redraw district lines, as required every ten years based on new census data. Governor Cuomo has vowed to veto any gerrymandered lines. That would likely hurt Republican candidates, who in recent decades have increasingly needed to reconfigure districts to bolster GOP Senators against dwindling Republican voter enrollment.

Governor Cuomo has been on friendly terms with both Republicans and Democrats in the Senate, in his first year in office. But he has said repeatedly that he will veto any new lines that are drawn in a partisan manner.

In Albany, I'm Karen DeWitt.