The American Pundit

Republicans will oust NY Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith from his position later today, following the switching of sides by two Democrats. Republicans now have control of the NY Senate, CBS2 reports.

ALBANY (CBS) ? Senate Republicans on Monday have replaced Malcolm Smith as Majority Leader after two dissident Democrats switched sides, giving GOP Senate control, CBS 2 has learned.

The flip of senators Pedro Espada Jr. of the Bronx and Hiram Monserrate of Queens gaves Republicans a 32-30 edge in the chamber.

Within an hour of the overthrow, Republicans named Espada temporary president of the Senate and Dean Skelos of Nassau County vice president and majority leader. Skelos is the former majority leader…

Democrats tried to leave the chamber, even turning off the lights briefly. They are expected to challenge Monday’s action in court.

What happened? According to the New York Times, there was a revolt on the floor.

A raucous leadership fight erupted on the floor of the Senate around 3 p.m., with two Democrats, Pedro Espada Jr. of the Bronx and Hiram Monserrate of Queens, joining the 30 Senate Republicans in a motion that would displace Democrats as the party in control.

It was a noisy and acrimonious scene on the floor of the Senate as Senator Thomas W. Libous, a Republican from Binghamton and the party’s deputy leader, shouted for a roll-call vote, while Democrats attempted to stall the vote by asking to adjourn the session.

All 30 Republicans stood with their hands raised, signaling a vote for a change in leadership. Mr. Espada and Mr. Monserrate joined them, each raising his hand. It appeared that Republicans had won the vote by a 32-to-30 margin. If the Republicans retake the chamber, Dean G. Skelos, of Long Island, would likely be the new majority leader.

After the results of the vote were read aloud, the in-house television station that carries Senate proceedings live in the Capitol went dark. All that appeared on the screen was a still photo of the Senate chamber and the words “Please stand by.”

Senate Republicans quickly claimed that they were on the verge of controlling the chamber. “A new bipartisan, coalition is being established that is bringing real reform to the Senate right now,” Republicans said in a statement emailed to reporters at 3:20 p.m.

As the events were unfolding on the floor, Senator Malcolm A. Smith of Queens, leader of the Senate Democrats, huddled in the hall just off the Senate chamber and consulted with his staff. When asked what was occurring, he responded, “I’m trying to find out right now.”

Democrats had controlled the Senate for just five months, following decades-long control by Republicans.

Update: Press & Sun-Bulletin backs up reports from WCBS and the NY Times.

ALBANY — In a remarkable turn, two Senate Democrats this afternoon voted with the Republican minority to oust Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith, D-Queens, and return the Senate to Republican control.

Sens. Pedro Espada, D-Bronx, and Hiram Monserrate, D-Queens, voted with the Republicans in an unexpected bid to give the GOP the Senate majority with just two weeks left in the legislative session.

Wow. Just wow.

Update X2: And now the Times-Union.

We’ll have to come as this develops: but the Republicans have just taken over the Senate. With the help of Democrats Hiram Monserrate and Pedro Espada Jr. who sided with the GOP Republicans minutes ago elected Dean Skelos as Majority Leader and Espada as President Pro Tem.

The move came after what could only be described as as standoff, when GOP Sen. Tom Libous called for a leadership vote — minutes before the Democrats were about to approve the annual pork barrel spending resolution in which they, in the majority for the first time, took the lions share of money. Libous at one point threatened presiding Democrat Neil Breslin with removal from the dais, the Democrats then said they were adjourning and walked off the floor, and Skelos and Espada were sworn in.

Like I said, wow.

More: Wall Street Journal, NPR, Polit Bureau, NY Daily News, CBS 6, Michelle Malkin.