Skelos: GOP will win '35 or 36' seats

Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) said Republicans successfully will defend all the seats it now controls – including the seat being vacated by Sen. Owen Johnson (R-West Babylon). Further, Skelos predicted his party will win open seats in Westchester County and the Capital Region, and will defeat Sen. Joe Addabbo (D-Ozone Park).

“We're going to pick up several seats,” Skelos said. “I'm very optimistic we're going to come back with 35 or 36 seats.”

Democrats contend that their 2-1 enrollment advantage and the presidential election — which typically boosts Dem turnout in New York — will help them regain the state Senate. They say they are “playing offense” on eight or nine Republican-held seats while Republicans are targeting just two Democrats.