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| In New York, Trump Backlash Takes Aim at Renegade Democrats | In New York, Trump Backlash Takes Aim at Renegade Democrats |
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| PELHAM, N.Y. — Dr. Andrew Mutnick closely follows national politics, and has even gone door-knocking for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. But he admits he was caught off guard by the political landscape of his own backyard. | PELHAM, N.Y. — Dr. Andrew Mutnick closely follows national politics, and has even gone door-knocking for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. But he admits he was caught off guard by the political landscape of his own backyard. |
| It was not until Donald J. Trump won the presidency that Dr. Mutnick, a pediatrician with offices in Manhattan and Westchester County, learned that his own Democratic state senator, Jeffrey D. Klein, had been empowering Republicans in Albany. | It was not until Donald J. Trump won the presidency that Dr. Mutnick, a pediatrician with offices in Manhattan and Westchester County, learned that his own Democratic state senator, Jeffrey D. Klein, had been empowering Republicans in Albany. |
| “I’m like, ‘Jeez, what? Really? Where have I been?’” he recalled thinking after discovering Mr. Klein’s leadership of a group of eight Democrats who have a power-sharing arrangement with Republicans in the State Senate. | “I’m like, ‘Jeez, what? Really? Where have I been?’” he recalled thinking after discovering Mr. Klein’s leadership of a group of eight Democrats who have a power-sharing arrangement with Republicans in the State Senate. |
| “I thought that if I didn’t know about this, I bet a lot of people don’t know,” Dr. Mutnick said. “It’s an incredibly insidious arrangement that is very difficult to untangle and understand.” | “I thought that if I didn’t know about this, I bet a lot of people don’t know,” Dr. Mutnick said. “It’s an incredibly insidious arrangement that is very difficult to untangle and understand.” |
| Across the nation, a backlash to the Trump agenda is underway, especially among angry suburban voters. The latest example surfaced earlier this month in a Pennsylvania congressional special election, where Conor Lamb, a Democrat, defeated his Republican opponent in a suburban district outside Pittsburgh that Mr. Trump had won by 20 percentage points. | Across the nation, a backlash to the Trump agenda is underway, especially among angry suburban voters. The latest example surfaced earlier this month in a Pennsylvania congressional special election, where Conor Lamb, a Democrat, defeated his Republican opponent in a suburban district outside Pittsburgh that Mr. Trump had won by 20 percentage points. |
| In New York, Democrats are mostly focused on unseating six Republican members of the congressional delegation. But for some, merely targeting Republicans is not enough; Mr. Klein’s group, the Independent Democratic Conference, is now fair game because it is viewed as an enabler to Republican rule — helping them control the State Senate even though Democrats hold a numerical majority. | In New York, Democrats are mostly focused on unseating six Republican members of the congressional delegation. But for some, merely targeting Republicans is not enough; Mr. Klein’s group, the Independent Democratic Conference, is now fair game because it is viewed as an enabler to Republican rule — helping them control the State Senate even though Democrats hold a numerical majority. |
| The rising antipathy toward the I.D.C. has led to a tentative agreement to have the renegade group eventually return to the Democratic fold. The condition-laden deal has the blessing of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, a Democrat who has been criticized by some — most recently by his new primary opponent, Cynthia Nixon — for not using his influence to force a truce years earlier. | The rising antipathy toward the I.D.C. has led to a tentative agreement to have the renegade group eventually return to the Democratic fold. The condition-laden deal has the blessing of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, a Democrat who has been criticized by some — most recently by his new primary opponent, Cynthia Nixon — for not using his influence to force a truce years earlier. |
| Nonetheless, residual anger over Mr. Trump’s victory, combined with the Democrats’ hopes of flipping Congress in the midterm elections this fall, have invigorated efforts to drive the I.D.C. senators out of office. | Nonetheless, residual anger over Mr. Trump’s victory, combined with the Democrats’ hopes of flipping Congress in the midterm elections this fall, have invigorated efforts to drive the I.D.C. senators out of office. |
| A coalition of 60 anti-Trump groups has endorsed five Democratic challengers who will run against members of the I.D.C. in the September primary. The Working Families Party, which often cross-endorses Democratic candidates, has come out in support of seven challengers. | A coalition of 60 anti-Trump groups has endorsed five Democratic challengers who will run against members of the I.D.C. in the September primary. The Working Families Party, which often cross-endorses Democratic candidates, has come out in support of seven challengers. |
| Activists from groups like Progressive Women of Pelham, True Blue NY and Rockland Citizens Action Network have held postcard-writing parties, protests and educational forums to inform the public about the I.D.C. | Activists from groups like Progressive Women of Pelham, True Blue NY and Rockland Citizens Action Network have held postcard-writing parties, protests and educational forums to inform the public about the I.D.C. |
| They face an uphill battle: The I.D.C. members have all the advantages of incumbency, from name recognition to fund-raising. | |
| The I.D.C. was created in 2011 by Mr. Klein, whose district includes parts of the Bronx and Westchester, and a coterie of breakaway Democrats who were dissatisfied with the Senate Democratic leadership. A year later, the group declared its intention to form a bipartisan coalition with Republicans. | The I.D.C. was created in 2011 by Mr. Klein, whose district includes parts of the Bronx and Westchester, and a coterie of breakaway Democrats who were dissatisfied with the Senate Democratic leadership. A year later, the group declared its intention to form a bipartisan coalition with Republicans. |
| Since then, the Republicans have ruled the Senate, while Democrats control the governorship and Assembly. That has left New York out of a club of eight states in which Democrats control both houses of the legislature and the governor’s office. | Since then, the Republicans have ruled the Senate, while Democrats control the governorship and Assembly. That has left New York out of a club of eight states in which Democrats control both houses of the legislature and the governor’s office. |
| After Mr. Trump’s victory, Lisa DellAquila, a leader of True Blue NY, created a PowerPoint about the I.D.C. “It’s complicated to understand who they are and what the effect is,” said Ms. DellAquila, a lawyer and stay-at-home mother in Harlem. “I traveled around and made presentations to a couple of people sitting in their living rooms in Riverdale and to big crowds in town halls in Jackson Heights.” | After Mr. Trump’s victory, Lisa DellAquila, a leader of True Blue NY, created a PowerPoint about the I.D.C. “It’s complicated to understand who they are and what the effect is,” said Ms. DellAquila, a lawyer and stay-at-home mother in Harlem. “I traveled around and made presentations to a couple of people sitting in their living rooms in Riverdale and to big crowds in town halls in Jackson Heights.” |
| True Blue NY and other groups in the coalition that gave their support to the challengers did so only after the candidates signed a pledge that they would caucus with the mainline Democrats. In recent days, those challengers have started to view themselves as a slate. | True Blue NY and other groups in the coalition that gave their support to the challengers did so only after the candidates signed a pledge that they would caucus with the mainline Democrats. In recent days, those challengers have started to view themselves as a slate. |
| “There’s always strength in numbers,” said Alessandra Biaggi, the Democratic candidate for Mr. Klein’s seat who was endorsed by the coalition. “Having the same message amplified in eight different districts is very powerful and important.” | “There’s always strength in numbers,” said Alessandra Biaggi, the Democratic candidate for Mr. Klein’s seat who was endorsed by the coalition. “Having the same message amplified in eight different districts is very powerful and important.” |
| Ms. Biaggi, 31, formerly worked in the counsel’s office for Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and later was a top official in Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. She is also a granddaughter of Mario Biaggi, the Bronx Democratic congressman who went to prison in the 1980s for corruption, but remains a popular figure in the borough. | Ms. Biaggi, 31, formerly worked in the counsel’s office for Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and later was a top official in Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. She is also a granddaughter of Mario Biaggi, the Bronx Democratic congressman who went to prison in the 1980s for corruption, but remains a popular figure in the borough. |
| In her parents’ living room in Pelham Manor, in southern Westchester County, Ms. Biaggi said she adored her grandfather, adding that she was too young at the time of his trial to understand his wrongdoing. | In her parents’ living room in Pelham Manor, in southern Westchester County, Ms. Biaggi said she adored her grandfather, adding that she was too young at the time of his trial to understand his wrongdoing. |
| In debating whether to run for Senate, Ms. Biaggi said she was unconcerned about any potential baggage of the Biaggi name. Rather, it was the prospect of a campaign for state office. | In debating whether to run for Senate, Ms. Biaggi said she was unconcerned about any potential baggage of the Biaggi name. Rather, it was the prospect of a campaign for state office. |
| “There’s no right time,” she explained. “It’s always going to be inconvenient. But what’s more inconvenient is not having a truly Democratic state legislature to put us on par with California and Oregon. The I.D.C. senators are not who they say they are. They are not true Democrats.” | “There’s no right time,” she explained. “It’s always going to be inconvenient. But what’s more inconvenient is not having a truly Democratic state legislature to put us on par with California and Oregon. The I.D.C. senators are not who they say they are. They are not true Democrats.” |
| For their part, the members of the I.D.C. say they have pulled the Senate Republicans to the left and have helped pass progressive legislation, from a $15 minimum wage to raising the age of criminal responsibility. | For their part, the members of the I.D.C. say they have pulled the Senate Republicans to the left and have helped pass progressive legislation, from a $15 minimum wage to raising the age of criminal responsibility. |
| Mainline Democrats say that the I.D.C.’s real motive is power and the perks that come with it — committee chairmanships, larger offices and lucrative stipends. They say that Mr. Klein, through his coalition with Republicans, also has tremendous say over which bills reach the floor for a vote. | Mainline Democrats say that the I.D.C.’s real motive is power and the perks that come with it — committee chairmanships, larger offices and lucrative stipends. They say that Mr. Klein, through his coalition with Republicans, also has tremendous say over which bills reach the floor for a vote. |
| Democratic activists argue that many more pieces of progressive legislation would have become law, had the mainstream Democrats controlled the Senate. Earlier this month, Dominique Claire Shuminova made the jump from helping lead the Progressive Women of Pelham to becoming Ms. Biaggi’s deputy campaign manager. | Democratic activists argue that many more pieces of progressive legislation would have become law, had the mainstream Democrats controlled the Senate. Earlier this month, Dominique Claire Shuminova made the jump from helping lead the Progressive Women of Pelham to becoming Ms. Biaggi’s deputy campaign manager. |
| She said that perhaps her main motivation for trying to derail the I.D.C. was a desire to see more progressive laws enacted. | She said that perhaps her main motivation for trying to derail the I.D.C. was a desire to see more progressive laws enacted. |
| “Jeff Klein is standing in the way of all this legislation I care about,” said Ms. Shuminova, pointing to issues like women’s reproductive health and voting rights. “In the age of Donald Trump, there is a new urgency to all of these bills getting to the floor.” | “Jeff Klein is standing in the way of all this legislation I care about,” said Ms. Shuminova, pointing to issues like women’s reproductive health and voting rights. “In the age of Donald Trump, there is a new urgency to all of these bills getting to the floor.” |
| In a statement, Mr. Klein blamed the anti-Trump coalition for blocking Democratic unity in the Senate. | In a statement, Mr. Klein blamed the anti-Trump coalition for blocking Democratic unity in the Senate. |
| “These fringe groups have repudiated efforts by the state Democrats, Senate Democrats and the governor to go into the November elections with a unified party,” he said. “If there is anyone who is responsible for the failure of the Democratic Party in November, it will be them. Their divisive, empty platform is largely responsible for Donald Trump’s election in the first place.” | “These fringe groups have repudiated efforts by the state Democrats, Senate Democrats and the governor to go into the November elections with a unified party,” he said. “If there is anyone who is responsible for the failure of the Democratic Party in November, it will be them. Their divisive, empty platform is largely responsible for Donald Trump’s election in the first place.” |
| Even if the deal to merge the I.D.C. with the mainline Democrats was to go through, the Democrats would still be one vote short of the 32 they need to lead the 63-seat chamber: Another Democratic senator, Simcha Felder of Brooklyn, has been siding with Republicans since 2012, and has been noncommittal about his alliances. | Even if the deal to merge the I.D.C. with the mainline Democrats was to go through, the Democrats would still be one vote short of the 32 they need to lead the 63-seat chamber: Another Democratic senator, Simcha Felder of Brooklyn, has been siding with Republicans since 2012, and has been noncommittal about his alliances. |
| John Gromada, vice president of Rockland Citizens Action Network, said that deal or no deal, he would continue to work to unseat his state senator, David Carlucci, an I.D.C. member. “We don’t want to reward Carlucci and the other I.D.C. members for the treachery they have committed since 2011,” said Mr. Gromada, a composer who lives in Nyack. | John Gromada, vice president of Rockland Citizens Action Network, said that deal or no deal, he would continue to work to unseat his state senator, David Carlucci, an I.D.C. member. “We don’t want to reward Carlucci and the other I.D.C. members for the treachery they have committed since 2011,” said Mr. Gromada, a composer who lives in Nyack. |
| Others see a sexist subplot to the partnership between Republicans and the breakaway Democrats, one that has denied Andrea Stewart-Cousins, leader of the mainstream Senate Democrats, the title of Senate majority leader, and a role in the behind-the-scenes deal making now conducted by the so-called four men in a room. | Others see a sexist subplot to the partnership between Republicans and the breakaway Democrats, one that has denied Andrea Stewart-Cousins, leader of the mainstream Senate Democrats, the title of Senate majority leader, and a role in the behind-the-scenes deal making now conducted by the so-called four men in a room. |
| Mr. Klein is one of the four men — the others are Mr. Cuomo; Carl E. Heastie, the Assembly speaker; and John J. Flanagan, the Senate majority leader — who finalize the budget and other weighty issues behind closed doors. | Mr. Klein is one of the four men — the others are Mr. Cuomo; Carl E. Heastie, the Assembly speaker; and John J. Flanagan, the Senate majority leader — who finalize the budget and other weighty issues behind closed doors. |
| Rhea Mallett, a Briarcliff Manor resident who helped found Indivisible Rivertowns, said the latest deal between mainstream Democrats and the I.D.C. was especially frustrating given the #MeToo movement and the spate of sexual assault and harassment allegations against powerful men, including Mr. Klein. | Rhea Mallett, a Briarcliff Manor resident who helped found Indivisible Rivertowns, said the latest deal between mainstream Democrats and the I.D.C. was especially frustrating given the #MeToo movement and the spate of sexual assault and harassment allegations against powerful men, including Mr. Klein. |
| “The part that upsets me the most is what they are doing to Andrea Stewart-Cousins,” said Ms. Mallett, a lawyer and mother of two. “She is so smart and knows so much. She is the first woman to ever head a major party in the Senate. You basically have men saying, ‘You can’t do it; you have to share it.’ It’s outrageous.” | “The part that upsets me the most is what they are doing to Andrea Stewart-Cousins,” said Ms. Mallett, a lawyer and mother of two. “She is so smart and knows so much. She is the first woman to ever head a major party in the Senate. You basically have men saying, ‘You can’t do it; you have to share it.’ It’s outrageous.” |