8. Jay Jacobs

The Jacobs posse has had difficulty breaking out of Nassau County, with the exception of New York State Sen. Craig Johnson (D-Port Washington), who has proven more of a wildcard than a machine player in the Nassau Dems stable. Having said that, Jacobs has managed to confound Nassau Republicans at every turn, racking up victory after victory to retain the majority and control nearly every plum job in the county. Despite being derailed at times in Albany and Washington, Jacobs has become a powerhouse fundraiser, and the quarterback of his team—Power List Hall of Famer Tom Suozzi—may have more light at the end of his political tunnel than previously thought. If Jacobs is able to break the Nassau shackles and start sending candidates to the main stages in Albany and the Beltway, look for him to gain national prominence in the party.