ALBANY, N.Y. -- "You are going to see an increase in majority after November," said Senator Joseph Bruno. "And frankly, if I didn't believe that, I probably would stay and fight the battle."
But by all accounts, a battle is exactly what November will be for the Republicans.
"When a new sheriff comes to town, there is always a little bit of uncomfortable feeling," said Joe Mondello, the chair of the New York State GOP. "It's gonna be up to myself and the new majority leader to make sure that everybody stays the course, works hard and we make an effort to take some seats the Democrats currently hold."
But even Mondello's fate is not entirely clear.
"Anytime someone like Senator Bruno leaves, there are rumors about anybody could leave," said Jim Tedisco, the Assembly Minority Leader.
Rumors circulating that he could soon be replaced by U.S. Congressman Tom Reynolds.
Following Bruno's announcement, Republicans are now taking a hard look at what it will take to win crucial seats in November. Our Britt Godshalk has the story.
"I think he'd make a wonderful state chairman," Mondello said. "Now I mean, no one has come to me, I'm staying on the job."
"The party will endure," said John Faso, a former Republican gubernatorial candidate. "Let's face it. We've gone through a rough patch nationally and here in the state. I think Republicans need to be the voice for taxpayers, the voice for entrepreneurship, the voice for investment and the voice for common sense policy both nationally and at the state level."
And they hope that voice will be heard loudly in the parts of the state where there could be any Democratic vulnerability.
"I think that Aubertine seat can still be had in the Senate," said Tedisco. "I think in Western New York, I think maybe we can take back that Nick Spano seat that we lost."
"I think in my county, Craig Johnson is vulnerable," Mondello said. "I think he's one."
But even facing those challenges, there is still the potential the Democrats could win the State Senate Majority in November, making all branches of New York state government Democratic. It's a possibility the Republicans now must face without Bruno as their Majority Leader.
"If the worst happens, it won't be long before somebody in the Democrat party, they've already done stupid things. We saw it happen with former Governor Eliot Spitzer, we've seen it happen with others on both sides of the aisle and it will happen again." said Mondello.
Leaving one to wonder if the only predictable thing about New York politics is its unpredictability?