Democrats have lost their supermajority in the New York state Senate, according to a tally of race outcomes declared by the Associated Press.
As of Thursday, Democrats have secured 40 seats in the state Legislature’s upper chamber. Republicans flipped one seat in Brooklyn, with Republican Stephen Chan unseating Democratic state Sen. Iwen Chu. Chu had just barely won an extremely close race there two years ago.
The 50th state Senate District in Central New York is still too close to call, with Democrat Chris Ryan leading Republican Nick Paro by just 548 votes, but the GOP pickup in New York City ends the supermajority no matter what happens in the 50th.
"Here in New York, voters rejected the Senate Supermajority that has pushed extreme policies that have made New York less affordable and less safe," state Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt said in a statement. "Along with our newly elected member and returning incumbents, the New York State Senate Republican Conference stands ready to continue our work to make New York affordable and safe, and we will not rest until it’s done."
This changes little in the balance of power in Albany. Holding 42 seats is the necessary number to have a two-thirds supermajority in the state Senate, which enables lawmakers to reject a potential veto by the governor, tipping the balance of power in Albany in favor of the two chambers. Democrats first won a supermajority in the Senate in 2020. They’ve had one in the state Assembly for years.
While a supermajority amends slightly the dynamics in Albany, overriding a veto without relying on Republicans never once took place in the four years the party held that status. Overriding vetoes in New York are rare generally in the modern era. A governor’s veto hasn’t been overridden since 2006 under Gov. George Pataki.