Democrats in the Albany Senate are looking forward to April 16 when Bronx Senator Jeff Klein, who as head of the Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) had caucused with Republicans for years, and will now caucus with his counterparts after agreeing to disband the IDC.

The IDC wielded some of the greatest political power in Albany for nearly six years when Klein formed it in 2011 as a way to fix Albany dysfunction. Its largest criticism came when the group—comprised of eight Democratic senators—routinely caucused with Republicans, effectively broadening the IDC’s and Republicans’ influence on legislation. But with a critical November election ahead on every level of government, and opponents mounting primary challenges against IDC members, Klein ultimately dissolved the conference “knowing that we must all make sacrifices.”

“[The] 2018 electoral victory will send a message to the entire country that in New York state we stand ready to confront any challenger that seeks to harm any New Yorker. The days ahead will be hard, there will be much to accomplish,” said Klein at an April 4 news conference with Governor Andrew Cuomo and Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins of Westchester County.

Klein, who represents a vast swath of the east Bronx and some parts of Westchester County, specifically mentioned passage of the Dream Act, which gives college financial aid to undocumented young people nicknamed “dreamers.” The measure has consistently passed in the Democratically-controlled Assembly but not the Republican-controlled Senate.

Under the deal, Stewart-Cousins will become leader of the Democratic Conference, the first for an African-American woman, and Klein a deputy leader.

“I think we are a house divided, we don’t stand; a house united, we stand. We stand tall. We stand for the right things and we’re able to move not only the state, but to send a message that we really are stronger and more productive for everyone when we work together,” said Stewart-Cousins at the news conference.

Among the first orders of business is to get Democrats elected in two vacant senate seats at the April 24 special election left vacant by newly elected Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. of Soundview and Westchester County executive George Latimer. Following that is the November elections where every member of the Senate is up for re-election. The trickle-down effect translates to more Democrats seeking to stump for Democratic challengers in Congress, potentially shifting power to Democrats from a Republican-controlled federal government.

Senator Gustavo Rivera, representing the Bronx’s 33rd Senate District and a staunch progressive Democrat, told the Norwood News he believes Democrats will finally hold a majority in the Senate following election season. “The expectation is that we potentially have a majority by the end of the session, but most certainly have a majority starting next session in January,” he said.

Cuomo’s premise for unification of Democrats stemmed largely from the November election where Democrats from all levels of government seek to reclaim a majority in the legislative houses. Through unification, New York Democrats intend to demonstrate strength in numbers when combating Republican opponents. Cuomo, who has presidential ambitions, also faces a challenger in actress Cynthia Nixon in his bid for re-election this year.

But even with eight Democrats back in the fold, the balance of power hasn’t quite shifted. There are still 31 Senate Democrats in Albany to 31 Senate Republicans. Democrat Simcha Felder of Brooklyn remains the only holdout, continuing to caucus with Republicans as he’s done for more than five years. For Cuomo, Felder is one piece of the puzzle. The other is Democratic unification.

“That reality in many ways trumps everything else,” said Cuomo. “It trumps individual rationales, it trumps factions, it trumps personal aspirations, it trumps personal disagreements because you’re in a ship and you’re all in the same ship together.”