Smith Out as NYS Senate Leader?

We’re getting word from our Albany correspondent Karen DeWitt that Democrats in the state Senate named John Sampson as their new leader. Sampson represents the 19th District in the southeast corner of Brooklyn.

Malcolm Smith was majority leader of the Democratic caucus, but Democrats no longer have a majority in the Senate. Last Monday, two Democrats voted with Republicans to give control of the Senate back to the GOP.

One of those Senators, Hiram Monserrate of Queens, reportedly switched his allegiance back to the Democrats this morning.

This leaves the Senate in a “nightmare scenario” — evenly split with 31 Republicans and 31 Democrats. With no majority party, it’s unclear how any bill can be introduced for debate on the Senate floor.

This is why we’re hearing the word “gridlock” so often mentioned today in reference to the Senate.