The lower Manhattan Democrat was chosen by the Democratic conference in closed-door session Tuesday. He said there was no opposition.

Silver was first elected to the Assembly in 1976 and easily won re-election in the fall.

As speaker, he must gain a consensus in the diverse Democratic conference and negotiate those positions with the governor and leader of the Senate.

Silver is praised by Democrats as a consummate negotiator.

Silver says he hasn't yet chosen a majority leader. Former majority leader Ronald Canestrari of Albany County retired in the fall.

Silver is within a few years of becoming the longest tenured legislative leader in state history.

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