Democrats are looking to take back control of the state Senate this Election Day.
Democrats believe victory is coming following former Majority Leader Dean Skelos's corruption conviction, as well as the recent arrests of fellow Republicans Ed Mangano and John Venditto in Nassau County. Nassau Democratic Chair Jay Jacobs says all of Long Island's eight Republican state senators should be held accountable.
"I think Republicans are going to lose the state Senate," says Jacobs. "Where were you when Dean Skelos, your colleague, was colluding with the county executive in Nassau County over contracts that brought him down? You were silent."
The clout of Long Island's Republican state Senate majority is considerable. Republicans say they've won tax concessions and school aid for Long Island year after year by acting as a solid block.
"All the promises we've made we've kept," says Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan. "In the last five years, school aid has increased 26 percent. There was over $200 million in new money this year alone for Long Island."
The last time Democrats controlled the state Senate in Albany was in 2008.