40. Joseph Mondello

The legacy of the Nassau GOP has certainly been blown under Mondello’s watch. But is it his fault? The powers that be in the state don’t think so. Big Joe pulled maybe the biggest rabbit yet out of his hat and got his button to run the entire state, perhaps a dubious honor given the state of Republicans in New York, but he’s the top guy nevertheless. The Nassau GOP had a disappointing showing in the special Senate election and suffered heavy casualties in the judicial races, but the business of politics is cyclical and you can never count Mondello out. Even if the turnaround is in 2052, Mondello will likely still be in power.