Jay Jacobs
Hall of Fame
Since becoming the State Democratic Party chairman last year, Nassau leader Jay Jacobs has seen key New Yorkers come and go as he rose to the pinnacle of his party’s power. He’s had to say farewell to his county executive, Tom Suozzi, who lost a squeaker, and watch while his governor, David Paterson, called off his re-election bid after a week. But through it all, Jacobs has kept his cool and bided his time. And why not? He knows he’s got the strongest Democrat in the Empire State now sitting pretty at the top of the ticket. Andrew Cuomo doesn’t even have to declare he’s running for governor; everybody knows he’s the front-runner. As a rising tide lifts all boats, Jacobs finds his candidates in better shape on the ballot than he dared to dream only a few months ago when the chairman faced the messy prospect of a bitter fight between an ambitious attorney general and the embattled unelected governor. Don’t forget that Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand also dodged a potentially draining primary. The Republicans only wish they had it so good. This Democratic leader is one lucky guy.
Inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2010