19. Rich Schaffer

Despite reports that he’s butted heads with his top-elected candidate, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, the Babylon Town Supervisor is simultaneously a kingmaker as head of the Suffolk Democratic Party. That’s also evident by the fact that Democrats have the majority in the county legislature. The steady drum beat of public corruption investigations, indictments and convictions may have made political waves across Long Island, but Schaffer, ever the dealmaker, is poised to keep a Democrat in the district attorney’s seat, one way or another. Will a voter backlash against last year’s election of President Donald Trump help Schaffer by replacing a few local Republican elected officials with Democrats this fall, adding to the chairman’s power base? Stay tuned. With Schaffer calling the shots, anything’s possible.