ALBANY — No matter which candidate captures the “super Jewish” state Senate district in Brooklyn today, the GOP will be the winner.
Democratic challenger Simcha Felder (pictured) intends to caucus with the GOP and vote to keep Republican Dean Skelos of Long Island as Senate majority leader, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
Felder insisted yesterday that “nothing has changed in the last six months since I announced my candidacy. I said I would caucus with any party that will allow me to deliver the most to the 17th Senate district and its constituents.”
Asked if that meant going with whichever party captures the majority, Felder said, “Yes.”
Republicans now hold a 33-29 majority and are well-positioned to keep control of what will be a 63-seat Senate next year because of redistricting. That’s in large part because four of the current 29 Democrats broke away to form an independent conference last year and have worked closely with Skelos and the Republicans.
Felder is challenging Republican David Storobin, who narrowly defeated Democratic City Councilman Lew Fidler in a special election to replace former Sen. Carl Kruger (D-Brooklyn), who was forced out after being convicted of bribery charges.