One of the Democratic stalwarts of the New York state Senate recently announced he will not seek reelection after 25 years of public service.

Deputy Senate Majority Leader Mike Gianaris has been second in command to Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins for the last eight years. Before that, Gianaris served as her deputy when she was Senate minority leader. 

A smart political tactician, Gianaris was integral in helping lead the Senate Democrats out of the political wilderness in 2018.

He joined Capital Tonight host Susan Arbetter on Monday to look back at his tenure, recall his fights with the Indepdent Democratic Conference and his decision to challenge fellow Democrats. 

He also discussed a constitutional amendment that he sponsors and which he hopes will pass this legislative session to allow New York to undertake mid-decade redistricting.

If the bill passes this year, it will have to pass a second time in the next legislative session and then go to the voters before it takes effect.

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