In the first legislative session under Democratic control in 10 years, long-sought progressive victories on gun control, abortion rights, and LGBT rights were achieved. But new progressive lawmakers that were elected in last year’s Democratic wave are frustrated that more wasn't done, like creating a system of publicly financed campaigns.

“They've all said they support public financing of elections. They've all said they've supported it for a long time,” said Jessica Wisneski, executive director of Citizen Action.

But in the end, the state budget compromised on campaign finance laws changes, kicking the big decisions to a commission. And that's fueled talk of primary challenges to incumbents, including Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.

“I think we should looking to work together,” Heastie said. “There's so much we should be doing as two houses and not as President Obama said, ‘a circular firing squad.’”

Freshman Democratic state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi in an email to supporters this month hinted at the potential primary challenges in the 2020 elections. Heastie himself helped Democrats gain control of the state Senate last year, breaking with an unspoken rule that Assembly speakers don't interfere with the politics of the Senate.

“I crossed the line to places where other speakers had never gone and helped the Senate Democrats in raising money,” Heastie said.

But University at Albany political science professor Bruce Gyory said backing primary bids could be tricky.

“Sometimes when you win your first race, you seem to think it's divine intervention that put it there,” Gyory said. “They should look behind to see what were the building blocks and ingredients of their victory? Can they be replicated or will they be repulsed?”

Progressives may plan challenges at both the state legislative and congressional level next year. However, they also run the risk of facing off against the first black speaker of the Assembly, as well as Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8), who is considered a potential future speaker of the House of Representatives.

“If white progressives are perceived as going after African-American candidates like Hakeem Jeffries or Kevin Parker or bastions like Jerry Nadler, there's going to be a problem,” Gyory said.

For now, no primary challenges have materialized, but the next few weeks of the legislative session could prove key to what happens on the campaign front.