The state Senate's now-extinguished Republican majority was a unique institution in Albany. Its members were spread out all across the state, and its power bases were in rural communities many believe are otherwise underrepresented at the state Capitol.
All that has changed.
For better of for worse, the Democrats are in control, holding onto a 32-30 majority in the state Senate that could grow over the next few elections and after districts are redrawn after the 2010 census.
The Democrats' power extends to the state Assembly, where they outnumber Republicans two-to-one and the GOP is relegated to second-class status even though all members represent more than 100,000 New Yorkers.
It extends to Gov. David Paterson, who used to represent Harlem in the state Senate. It extends to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who lives in Manhattan. It extends to state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who grew up in Queens and who some believe will again run for governor one day. It extends to state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, a Long Island native.
The 32 members of the Senate's Democratic majority share similar backgrounds. All but five of them are from New York City and its suburbs, and members of the Republican minority - who represents almost all of Upstate New York and many Long Island districts - could be relegated to second-class status like their counterparts in the Assembly.
''When Republicans controlled the majority, there was an even distribution of Republican senators to every corner of the state, which gave more balance to state government,'' said state Sen. Cathy Young, R-Olean, who lost her seat as Agriculture Committee chairwoman during the power shift. ''Every region was represented. Every area had a strong voice. Now, everything is controlled by New York City.''
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
The question is, what does this mean for communities Upstate New York, which share a rural characteristic unknown to downstate politicians? Where small and large businesses struggle to survive after the industrial exodus of the 1970s and 1980s? Where agriculture reigns supreme and billions of dollars in natural gas deposits lay vastly untapped underground?
Democratic insiders say their new majority will prompt Republican senators to retire, opening up seats across the state and giving Democrats across the state a chance to join the majority and represent Upstate New York's values and needs. They also point to the five Democrats who do reside northwest of Westchester County, though all but one comes from mostly urban areas, like Buffalo and Syracuse.
Others worry the values of Upstate New York will be trampled upon by downstate politicians, who now have total and complete control over the state government. Case in point:
Residents across Upstate New York live atop those natural gas deposits, but environmentalists - with the bulk of their support in New York City - oppose drilling because of the mark it leaves on the environment. According to Sen. Young, downstate Democrats could make it a lot harder for residents across Upstate New York to benefit from the natural gas deposits that are rightfully theirs underfoot.
Hunting and fishing are popular sports across Upstate New York. Environmentalists and animal rights activists who oppose those sports could lean upon Democratic lawmakers because ''New York City doesn't understand the importance of outdoor sporting,'' according to Sen. Young.
Development dollars could be diverted from the struggling Upstate economy to the New York City area, which is in much better shape. Don Bloomquist, who heads the Jamestown-based, non-profit development agency Citizen Opportunities for Development and Equality, says that's something for which his group is preparing. ''I think we're going to be hurting both ways,'' Bloomquist said, referring to both the Democratic leadership and the state's fiscal crisis.
''The Senate Democrats have a radical agenda that is reflected by bills they have introduced in the past,'' Sen. Young said. ''However, they have been cautioned by their political consultants to not push a great deal of their agenda through right away because it will backfire on them.''
Funding for local and county governments across the state could also suffer. According to Steve Wickmark, Chautauqua County social services commissioner, there is a concern among his colleagues across the state that funding for social welfare programs will be diverted to New York City.
''When Upstate issues were argued before in the legislature, the senators generally were a moderating force in terms of making sure that the interests of Upstate communities were recognized in the overall budget package,'' Wickmark said. ''We don't have that protection any longer. The majority is clearly vested now in downstate interests and when a close question gets called, we're likely to see a situation in which there's a focus on taking care of the unique interests of New York City and the close suburbs as a priority over some of the Upstate, more rural counties.''