The state is losing two House districts, but may gain a state senator.

Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos just told a gaggle of reporters down at the Capitol this afternoon that there’s a “good chance” the redistricting process will add a Senate district, increasing the number of lawmakers in the upper chamber to 63.

The last time the Senate changed its number was before the 2002 elections, when they went from 61 to 62.

The move is sure to be opposed by Senate Democrats, who are trying to regain the majority in 2012. Sen. Mike Gianaris, the leader of the Senate Democrats’ campaign efforts in 2012, has previously said on the show that any attempt to create a 63rd district is unconstitutional and would be blocked.

The Senate is currently divided 32-30 in favor of the GOP, not including four Democrats who conference independently. A new Senate district would presumably be drawn into an area that is heavily Republican in order to bolster the GOP’s chances of keeping the chamber.

Democrats heavily outnumber Republicans in New York.

“We are preparing maps now and probably in the next few weeks we’ll have something,” he said.

Jimmy Vielkind of The TU asked how many districts may be proposed in the new maps.

“We’re still in the process of doing that, but there’s a good chance we’ll have 63,” Skelos said in response.

Assmeblyman Jack McEneny, D-Albany, the leader of the lawmaker-driven redistricting commission said Monday that maps could be available as early as next week.

Update — Senate Democratic spokesman Mike Murphy responds.

“This confirms everyone’s worst fears and proves that legislators are incapable of drawing their own districts in a fair manner. What the Senate Republicans are doing is illegal and no reading of the State Constitution would allow a new seat to be created. We are witnessing the depths that the Republicans will go to hold onto power. They are playing a dangerous game with the state constitution and the redistricting process. Unfortunately, the Senate GOP has made it clear that they care more about protecting their partisan interests than the people of New York State.”

Share|