Stewart-Cousins will be the first N.Y. Democrat in more than a century to do this

And Eric Adams' first Albany ask for 2025 has been unveiled.

Good afternoon — it’s Wednesday

In today’s CapCon:

• Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins was reelected to that leadership position Wednesday, marking a first since before World War II.

• Mayor Eric Adams is asking the state Legislature to consider a proposal he says would save hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers money.

• On The Bill: home heating assistance could soon be easier to get.

• New Bills of Note: criminal justice changes related to pretrial services and what happens when a minor is released from incarceration.

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Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (Will Waldron/Times Union)

✋ Andrea Stewart-Cousins marks another milestone for Democrats in New York

When Democrats took control of the state Senate in 2019, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins made history as the first woman, and woman of color, to lead the chamber.

Stewart-Cousins, who joined the Senate in 2007, has now been reelected to that position for a third time. Democrats in the Senate voted Wednesday to keep her in their most powerful position for next year’s legislative session.

“I am deeply honored and privileged to be unanimously reelected as majority leader and president pro tempore by my Democratic Senate colleagues from across New York state,” Stewart-Cousins said in a statement.

“As we approach the 2025-26 legislative session, our commitment remains steadfast: we will focus on fueling a thriving economy, protecting our democracy, and delivering essential resources to our communities,” she added.

It wasn’t a surprise that Stewart-Cousins maintained her support from the Democratic conference. I’ve never heard any of them criticize her. But I think it’s important to recognize milestones in state history, regardless of politics.

It was already historic for Stewart-Cousins to lead the conference for more than two years. The Senate coup in 2009 is not long forgotten for many of you.

But Stewart-Cousins will now shatter another ceiling for Democrats in New York for the first time in more than a century.