The Associated Press

ALBANY — Records show New York’s Republican Senate Campaign Committee gave $230,000 this month to the Independence Party, the state’s largest minor party, for its help in trying to keep the Republicans’ last power base in state government.

The Independence Party then used the cash to talk about campaign issues in the district of a Republican senator seeking a tough re-election, sent mailings and ran broadcast ads under its own banner to support Republican candidates in the tightest state Senate races.

The Independence Party said no donations limits were exceeded, although they acknowledged the report due last Friday documenting the GOP contribution publicly and how it was spent apparently wasn’t received by the state Board of Elections. A spokesman for the board didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment about the transactions.

Independence Party Chairman Frank MacKay confirmed the GOP contributions to his party went to specific Republican candidates in tight races, often with high Democratic enrollment.

MacKay said the party wants to preserve the Republicans’ majority, now 31-29 seats, because the governor is a Democrat and the Assembly is controlled by Democrats.

“What we care about more than anything is the balance of power,” MacKay said. “One party rule isn’t good for anyone.”

The Democratic Senate Campaign Committee says the GOP is trying to hide its identity in spending for its candidates.