The wily Democratic majority leader of the Assembly, who took a back seat on many issues to Mr. Spitzer, could fill a power vacuum left by the governor’s departure, at least during Mr. Paterson’s transition. “Silver knows when to play and when to lie low,” said Alan Chartock, a University at Albany professor.

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The Senate majority leader gets along well with Mr. Paterson, the former Senate minority leader. The Republicans now hold 32 seats in the senate, to the Democrats’ 30, so the loss of one seat will create a tie. But because the position of lieutenant governor will not be filled for the remainder of Mr. Paterson’s term, and because the lieutenant governor casts tiebreaking votes in the Senate, the question of who controls the Senate may remain an open one, even if the Democrats pick up a seat.

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