Pedro Espada, Jr. emerged victorious in the general election last week to be the area’s state senator on the heels of a bloody primary battle with incumbent Efrain Gonzalez, who was heavily backed by the state’s Democratic leadership.

Now, for Espada, it’s payback time.

Following his recent victory in the 33rd Senate District, Espada, a Democrat, is now withholding support for the Senate’s top Democrat, Malcolm Smith of Queens, after the party wrestled majority control from Republicans last week, ending 40 years of GOP rule in the legislative body.  

Smith, who has been the Democratic minority leader since 2006, is in line to take control of the new majority. But Espada and two other Democrats, Carl Kruger of Brooklyn and Ruben Diaz, Sr. of the Bronx, have formed an independent alliance – which Espada is now dubbing the “Three Amigos” – to challenge Smith’s election as majority leader.

Democrats will hold a slight 32-30 advantage, but only if the Three Amigos vote with their party.

Espada said he’s still upset that Smith spent $250,000 of the party’s money in an attempt to defame him and label him a Republican. (In 2002, as state senator in the 31st District, Espada flirted with the idea of becoming a Republican, but remained a Democrat.)

“I’m a Democrat,” Espada said. “I’m going to support a Democrat. But not Malcolm Smith.”

Espada explained that the party went too far in trying to block out his independent voice. “You diverted all that money to intimidate and defeat an independent minded thinker,” he said. “That is the politics of the past. It’s not what we need from our leadership.”

Many political observers believe he’s holding out for a plum committee assignment or other leadership position. Hiram Monserrate of Queens, who was once part of Espada’s crew (it was then known as the “Gang of Four”) dropped his opposition to Smith over the weekend in exchange for chairmanship of the Consumer Affairs Committee, the Daily News reported.

Espada, however, said he’s already “been offered everything” and is still maintaining his stance. He says he wants to set up a new “bipartisan template” that goes beyond party affiliation. Still, state leaders say that with a Democratic governor, Assembly and now Senate, this is a prime opportunity for legislators to get things done after years of partisan bickering and stagnation.  

While negotiations continue, politicians are stepping gingerly and hoping for the best.

State Senator Jeff Klein, an ambitious Bronx Democrat who is deputy minority leader, is on record saying he fully supports Smith and his spokesperson said the senator hopes the situation can be resolved soon.

Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz was somewhat blunter. “The Democrats elected a majority,” he said. “I certainly expect every Democrat to be a Democrat. We’re not going to be able to change New York if the Republicans continue to control the Senate.”

Espada said he and the other Amigos plan to sit down this week to plot their next move.