What's still in doubt is whether he'll be returning to Albany as the leader of the Senate's majority party or its minority party.
Going into election night, Republicans had 31 Senate seats to the Democrats' 29, and two seats were vacant. A GOP loss of one seat would have meant an unprecedented 30-30 tie, but Democrats took a slim majority that night - garnering 32 seats to the Republicans' 30.
After the election, Democrats immediately began wrangling over leadership posts. A deal promoting Malcolm A. Smith of Queens from minority leader to majority leader and president of the senate collapsed on Dec. 10. Several so-called "renegade" Democrats, "the gang of four" - Senator-elect Pedro Espada Jr. and Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. of the Bronx, along with Sen. Carl Kruger of Brooklyn and Senator-elect Hiram Monserrate of Queens, have withheld support for Smith. Monserrate's arrest last weekend on charges of assault and weapons possession for allegedly slashing his girlfriend with a broken glass, may further complicate negotiations over Senate leadership.
Late last week it was reported that Diaz, a social conservative on such issues as abortion and same-sex marriage, has not ruled out voting for a Republican senate majority leader, or conferencing with Republicans. There have been other reports that the dissident Democrats were bargaining over leadership posts in the Senate, and the stipends that frequently accompany them.
"The Democratic members of the Senate have elected to cease negotiations on reorganization matters," said Smith in a statement issued at the time the deal collapsed. "We are suspending negotiations, effective immediately. Real reform cannot and should not ever include limiting the civil rights of any New Yorkers. The members of this conference have come a long way to consider the demands placed on the table. Frankly, we would rather wait two more years to take charge of the senate than to simply serve the interests of the few."
Although they are currently meeting in committee, it may not be until Jan. 7, when Governor Paterson delivers his State of the State message and the legislative session officially convenes, that Senators resolve the leadership issue.
"Sen. Skelos has said that he hopes to remain majority leader, but he's also said we need to move forward in this next session in a bipartisan way," said Scott Reif, spokesman for the senator.
