State Senate won’t change leaders, rules until end of 2026

New York state Senate Democrats do not plan to change leaders or the chamber’s leadership rules before the end of the year, even after several members announced they will not seek reelection, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said Tuesday. 

Stewart-Cousins, a Yonkers Democrat, told reporters in Albany she will seek reelection this November. Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris announced Monday he will not return to the Legislature – joining a growing list of lawmakers who have decided to leave Albany after the end of the year.

Gianaris, who was first elected to the Legislature at age 27, will continue to serve as deputy majority leader until his term expires at the end of the year.

“He’s been an incredible, positive force in this chamber,” Stewart-Cousins said. 

Stewart-Cousins and Gianaris have served in Senate leadership together for over a decade – back when Republicans controlled the upper house. Democrats have controlled the chamber since 2019.

“He and I started our leadership journey together 13 years ago with the idea of taking the Democrats out of the wilderness and putting us in a position where we would be able to stand in front of you all and talk about policy and our priorities and actually get them implemented,” the Senate leader added.

Stewart-Cousins, likewise, has led Democrats in the Senate since the party took the majority in 2019. Current chamber rules do not allow one lawmaker to hold the leadership role after more than eight years, meaning Stewart-Cousins’ tenure is up in 2027 unless senators change the rules. 

“This is not a conversation for after budget (during this year’s legislative session) – this is a conversation that will happen after elections,” Stewart-Cousins said. “Once the elections happen, then we will know who, because nobody today can vote for what happens next year, nor do they vote for changes in rules.”

Senators would be required to vote to adopt rule changes at the beginning of the 2027 legislative session. It would not require a bill.

Stewart-Cousins would not say if she plans to push for a rule change to allow her to remain the Senate’s temporary president.

Sen. Jamaal Bailey is widely considered a top contender to succeed Stewart-Cousins as majority leader, three senators and two other people familiar with the dynamics told City & State. Westchester Democrat Sen. Shelley Mayer is also on the shortlist, multiple senators said.

It’s unclear who could be tapped as the next deputy majority leader to succeed Gianaris.