 Accepting a sizable pay cut, in 2014, Comrie challenged Malcolm Smith for the New York Senate after his corruption charges and questionable loyalty to the Democratic Party began calls for his replacement.He defeated Smith in the Democratic Party primary election by a landslide.Following his election to the NYS Senate, Comrie helped lead the search to appoint his replacement as Deputy Borough President eventually selecting Melva Miller, the Queens Borough President's director of economic development and Southeast Queens resident, to the post.