2009 New York State Senate leadership crisis

The 2009 New York State Senate leadership crisis was a political dispute that began on June 8, 2009. The State Senate was controlled by Democrats with a 32–30 majority, when a coalition of all 30 Republicans and two Democrats, Hiram Monserrate and Pedro Espada Jr., voted to replace the Majority Leader and Temporary President of the Senate. The other Senate Democrats attempted to block the change, but it was uncertain whether they were successful, or if the Republicans had legally changed the Senate leadership.

The coalition appeared to have gained control in a move that was described as a political coup. However, on June 15, Monserrate left the coalition and returned to the Democrats' side. The result was a 31–31 tie in the Senate. After a scandal the previous Governor, Eliot Spitzer, resigned. David Paterson was the Lieutenant Governor and assumed the higher office, leaving the vacancy for Lt. Governor. With no clear Senate president, and a vacancy in the Lieutenant Governor's office, there was no apparent way to break the deadlock. So now Governor Paterson attempted to force the Senate into action by withholding their salary and convening mandatory special Senate sessions, but it remained deadlocked.

On July 8, Governor Paterson appointed Richard Ravitch as Lieutenant Governor in an effort to break the deadlock. However, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo argued that the appointment was illegal. The next day, Espada announced that he was returning to the Democrats, giving them a 32–30 majority once more, and effectively ending the crisis. The appointment of Ravitch was eventually upheld by the New York Court of Appeals.

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