But average citizens want their legislators to be independent, and not bow to party bosses, said Ms. Altmann, one of the dissident Democrats.

Despite an attempted power coup by the entire Republican caucus and two dissident Democrats, the Democrats maintained their majority throughout most of the 2009-2010 session.

So all the Republicans need do now is vote as a solid bloc and woo across a single dissident Democrat.

Ms. Marinovich, a dissident Democrat whose ascendancy in the mid-1990's helped weaken a long-entrenched Democratic machine, was a prime target.

The dissident Democrats said that their region had been ignored by Senate leadership.

Mecham himself dubbed supporters of recall "a band of homosexuals and dissident Democrats."

In response, Mecham claimed the recall supporters were "a band of homosexuals and dissident Democrats".

President Clinton won a round in his drive to renew expanded trade negotiating authority when the Senate voted today to shut off stalling tactics by dissident Democrats.

When the recall petition campaign began in July, the Governor questioned whether "a few homosexuals and dissident Democrats" could raise enough signatures.

Lawyers for the Republicans and dissident Democrats are appealing the court ruling and will seek to block the meeting.