The following was cut for space from my “Albany Insider” column from Monday’s print editions:
One less obvious winner in last week’s primary is Sen. Michael Gianaris as his nemesis, Sen. Jeff Klein (D-Bronx), lost.
That means that Gianaris should regain his Senate deputy Democratic conference leadership post—and the $34,500 stipend it carries.
Gianaris gave up the position as part of the deal in April to reunify the Senate Democrats and the eight-member Independent Democratic Conference that Klein created in 2011 to form a leadership coalition with the GOP.
Klein became the deputy Democratic conference leader. Gianaris retained his post as chairman of the Senate Dem campaign committee and also became conference chairman.
As Democratic Senate Campaign Committee Chairman, Gianaris had met with many, if not all, of the candidates who wound up taking out six of the eight former IDC members in last week’s primaries—including Alessandra Biaggi, who defeated Klein in the Bronx.
And while Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins endorsed Klein and his seven members for re-election as part of the reunification deal, Gianaris made it clear publicly he would not follow suit even while holding open the possibility of backing the insurgent challengers, which he did not end up doing.
And with Klein and five other former IDC members out, many Senate Dems believe the conference will move forward more unified should they win control of the chamber in November.
“I guess Mike Gianaris plays chess and Jeff Klein plays checkers,” crowed one Democratic insider.
