In State Senate races: Foley, Johnson, Padavan

The rugged rematch to control Albany's marble and gold-leaf State Senate chamber is under way across New York -- a battle that will hand winners power to draw district lines for the next decade, but also the burden of having to rein in New York's ballooning $8-billion budget deficit.

Republicans, looking to tap into voter discontent, are fighting to take back control of a body they dominated for most of the last half century, with hopes of keeping this election from being their last hoorah.

"We're on the offensive," said Scott Reif, GOP Senate campaign spokesman.

Democrats, who won a narrow majority two years ago, are looking to hang on despite missteps, legal battles and leadership fights, not to mention an unpopular MTA tax that could make two Long Island Democratic senators vulnerable. But Austen Schafran, Democratic Senate campaign spokesman, said more GOP senators are vulnerable because of their long tenure: "The Republicans have to defend more long-term Albany incumbents in what is an anti-incumbent year."

The State Senate has a 32-29 Democratic majority. Both sides say 10 to 12 seats are in play statewide - three involving local incumbents - freshman Democrat Brian X. Foley's in Suffolk, Democrat Craig Johnson's in Nassau and Republican Frank Padavan's in Queens.

"It's still up for grabs because there are such huge unknowns out there," said Desmond Ryan, a veteran Albany lobbyist, citing factors like the economy, Albany dysfunction and tea party impact. Ryan said the landscape of the governor's race -- once considered a cakewalk for Democrat Andrew Cuomo -- has turned competitive, raising questions about which side will gain from gubernatorial coattails.

Politically, whoever wins the Senate majority will lead in redrawing senate district boundary lines, a process done every decade after the federal Census is complete. Control of reapportionment allows the party in power to craft lines that help them increase or protect their majorities, though a reformed group led by former New York City Mayor Ed Koch is pushing for legislation to make reapportionment nonpartisan.

The State Senate, along with the Assembly, has the power to amend the governor's proposed budget, raise or lower taxes and make laws. Senators also confirm department heads, commission members and authority members as well as state appointed judges.

But the victors will have to face unrelenting state budget woes that threaten a host of state services from school aid to state parks.

E.J. Mahon, director of the conservative think tank Empire Center for New York State Policy, said the deficit, while estimated at $8 billion, could go $1 billion higher before the year is up. "It's an enormous challenge, and it's not going to end this year," he said. "It's going to take several years of saying no."

But some experts say the outcome could turn on who will best protect Long Island interests. "Traditionally, the suburbs were represented by the Senate Republicans who were our guard against city-centric power of the Democrats," said Kevin Law, president of the Long Island Association, a regional business group. "And Democrats have to understand the importance of the suburbs or else we'd be better off with Republicans back in control."