Hillsborough County Commissioner Harry Cohen is a quiet success in local politics who often commands respect even among his political foes.
His productivity, while not always forward-facing, puts Cohen consistently among contenders on this list. He landed last year at No. 23.
As a member of the minority party on the Commission, he’s known for brokering compromises on local policy and, when necessary, working to tamp down more extreme proposals. That’s because, as one of just two Democrats on the seven-member County Commission, Cohen must navigate the complexities of governing amid a GOP supermajority, a task that is particularly challenging considering he once served from the majority.
“Harry Cohen is one of the most sensible and intellectually serious public officials in Tampa Bay. His leadership on the Hillsborough County Commission reflects sound judgment, clarity of thought, and a consistent willingness to engage hard issues with both discipline and common sense,” said Matt Herndon of RSA Consulting.
Cohen faces re-election this year. As a testament to his command of office, he likely faces an easy path to victory. As of early April, Cohen had drawn just one challenger — John Scott Butherus II — but his opponent didn’t appear likely to wage a serious campaign, and he ultimately withdrew from the race after learning he didn’t live in the district.
Meanwhile, Cohen has been aggressively raising funds. As of the end of December, Cohen had raised more than $80,000 through his campaign account. His affiliated committee, Hillsborough Together, remained flush with nearly $240,000 on hand. As of the end of March, Cohen raised nearly $450,000 for his reelection, which for now is unopposed.
“Harry Cohen is among the most level-headed and effective leaders in Tampa Bay. His extensive experience and deep knowledge of the issues that matter most to the community make him a key resource for leaders across the political spectrum seeking guidance or advice on critical matters,” said Christina Barker, Chief of Staff at the Vinik Family Office. “Commissioner Cohen doesn’t seek the spotlight or speak from a soapbox; when he speaks, it’s clear he has done his research and his comments are carefully considered. His pragmatic approach ensures his constituents feel well represented, and he remains particularly focused on the neighborhoods in his district, making sure every issue he addresses considers its impact on local communities.”
The Hillsborough County Democrat has proven himself resilient in recent years, surviving his 2022 re-election bid — just two years after his successful election, which flipped a seat from red to blue — in a cycle that was the political version of Game of Thrones’ red wedding.
Cohen won by less than a percentage point, a razor-thin victory that looked like a landslide compared to two of Cohen’s Democratic colleagues. Former Commissioner Mariella Smith lost her seat by nearly 6 percentage points, while former Commissioner Kimberly Overman lost hers by about 5 points.
Cohen has also proven himself a leader on perhaps the biggest issue facing the Tampa Bay region at this time: a proposal to build a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium and related mixed-use development at the site of the Hillsborough College Dale Mabry campus. In the first week of April, Cohen took a stand against releasing internal documents regarding negotiations, arguing it would be “very irresponsible” to show the county’s cards “before they have come to a conclusion of the negotiations.”
Cohen is one of only two Democrats on the Hillsborough County Commission. He was first elected to the Commission in 2020, replacing former Commissioner Sandy Murman, a Republican. Prior to his service on the Commission, Cohen served two terms on the Tampa City Council. He ran for Tampa Mayor in 2019, finishing third before now-Mayor Jane Castor went on to overwhelmingly defeat the late David Straz in a runoff election.
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As for methodology, the Tampa Bay region is defined as Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties, with Hernando, Polk and Sarasota included when their elected officials impact Pinellas or Hillsborough.
A politician is defined as someone currently in office or actively running for office.
Panelists ranked their Top 25, with a first-place vote earning 25 points, second place earning 24, and so on down to 1 point for 25th. Those totals were combined to produce the final list.
We also want to thank our experienced and knowledgeable panelists, who were essential to developing the 2026 list: Vinik Family Office Chief of Staff Christina Barker; Mercury Public Affairs Managing Director Ashley Bauman; Michael Corcoran and Matt Blair of Corcoran Partners; former Sen. Jeff Brandes; Stephanie Cardozo of The Southern Group; Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick managing partner Ron Christaldi; political consultant/strategist Barry Edwards; Vicidial Group President Matt Florell; Sunrise Consulting Group President Shawn Foster; businessman Michael Griffin; St. Pete Catalyst Publisher Joe Hamilton; Clay Hollis of Tucker/Hall; Natalie King of RSA Consulting Group; Moffitt Cancer Center VP of Public Affairs and Communications Merritt Martin; political consultant Chris Mitchell; Mike Moore of The Southern Group; RSA President and CEO Ron Pierce; Tucker/Hall CEO Darren Richards; political consultant Jim Rimes; political consultant Preston Rudie of Catalyst Communications Group; TECO Vice President of State and Regional Affairs Stephanie Smith; lobbyist Alan Suskey of Shumaker Advisors; and Michelle and Peter Schorsch, publishers of Florida Politics.