From minority to majority leader

My friend and colleague in the DLC Fellowship program Malcolm Smith of New York (pictured) is poised to become the Senate Majority Leader in that state after Democrats captured control of that chamber for the first time since 1966. "After 40 years in the wilderness, we are now in charge of the New York State Senate," he said. Smith was elected minority leader in 2006 and spent a weekend here in Arkansas last winter visiting the Governor's Mansion and learning about Arkansas politics. He currently has 29 votes for majority leader and needs three more to seal the position.

Other legislative chambers that switched control on Tuesday include the Delaware House, Ohio House, Wisconsin Assembly, and the Nevada Senate (all to the Dems). Republicans captured the Oklahoma Senate, the Montana Senate, and both chambers in the Tennessee Legislature. The Alaska Senate now has shared control by both parties.