Andrew Cuomo

Age: 54
Occupation: New York Governor

With a flick of his pen in June, Cuomo became a hero for millions of New Yorkers when he signed the bill officially recognizing same-sex marriages in the state. Cuomo was the law's champion, swaying Republicans with his impassioned plea to make good on his campaign promise. He also ushered in ethics reform and lower taxes, and by the end of his freshman year as governor, his effective, no-nonsense style had rocketed his approval rating to 71%.

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