It continues to pay to be in the majority in Albany.

Senate Democrats today will report having raised $2.4 million over the last six months and will have a combined $3.7 million in cash on hand. The numbers reflect both the Democrats' main fundraising committee and its soft-money housekeeping account, which has no limits on donations, but the money is restricted in use.

All told, the Senate Democrats have raised about $5 million in 2019, the highest toal for a majority conference committee in Albany.

Senate Democrats gained the majority for the first time in a decade in 2018.

Battleground Senate districts once again are expected to include Long Island and the Hudson Valley. But Democrats are also hopeful they will be able to pick up seats being vacated by amid a of Senate Republican retirements this year.