Malcolm Smith

Sen. Hiram Monserrate, as so many expected, says he's moving back to the Democratic fold, prompting the likelihood of continued deadlock, but with Monserrate's purportedly desired result of ousting Sen. Malcolm Smith as Democratic leader. Presumably he'...

Even if it has no practical impact on the frenzied politics leading up to today's court showdown and scheduled session, the symbolic message of "Gang of Two" members Espada and Monserrate hitting the Mets-Yanks showdown together Saturday made for......

Observers seem to be coalescing around a story that has Sen. Malcolm Smith exit, and Sen. John Sampson (photo) ascend, as the leader of Democrats in the upper house, whenever that becomes feasible. The argument now whispered, however, is......

Here's the latest file from Mr. Madore: State Senate Democrats named John Sampson of Brooklyn their de facto leader Monday, dumping Malcolm Smith of Queens to win back the support of a key senator. Sampson, (in photo) first elected......

The latest twist in the Senate saga -- and there had to be another one pre-weekend with Sen. Malcolm Smith's political fate in the balance -- goes: Seasoned New York City journalist Gerson Borero (in photo) has this exclusive......

Heading into Monday's crucial court hearing, prospects were larger in the Great Senate War for an even 31-31 split between the major party caucuses. If that happens - now or later in this once-in-a-lifetime drama - the bizarre question......

The latest Siena poll shows disapproval with the direction of state government -- if you can believe that -- as Mr. Madore reports here. Bloomberg, who in the past touted alliances with both Malcolm Smith and Dean Skelos, clearly finds......

Sen. Brian Foley (D-Blue Point) took the earliest seat in the chamber today and has been since joined by Malcolm Smith, it has been reported. Foley is one of two Democrats in the nine-member state Senate delegation from Long......

The Senate power war, now in its third week, may be headed for a new and potentially explosive court showdown. Yes, state Supreme Court Justice Thomas McNamara last week threw out the Democrats' claim that the Republican "coalition" coup......

And there were even dueling gavels in the room. Here's the latest dispatch from Mr. Madore: ALBANY ??? Chaos reigned in the State Senate today as rival leaders interrupted each other and recognized dueling presiding officers. Republican leader Dean...

Here's the surreal situation as best we understand it: First, Senate Democrats occupied the podium. They may have caught the GOP off guard the way the Republicans caught them unawares on June 8. Regardless, Republicans filed in and began......

The Stealth & Treachery Olympics progresses now into a new event. With wily parliamentarian Martin Connor, the former senator, on the floor, the Democrats claim that they have 32 votes because Republican Frank Padavan wandered through the chamber --......