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The Hudson Valley is known for its quaint riverfront enclaves and leafy neighborhoods, its historic mansions and estates, its cultural and culinary attractions. But in the political world, it’s first and foremost a crucial battleground in the war for control of Congress. Reps. Marc Molinaro and Mike Lawler are among the most vulnerable Republican incumbents seeking reelection this year, while another first-term lawmaker, Democratic Rep. Pat Ryan, is facing a tough reelection battle of his own.
Of course, the region’s suburban and exurban communities have long played an outsized role in state and local politics. It’s no coincidence that state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins hails from Westchester, or that one of the country’s most high-profile House primaries – in which Westchester County Executive George Latimer ousted Rep. Jamaal Bowman of “the Squad” – took place here. Local elected officials on both sides of the aisle were among the loudest opponents of congestion pricing, contributing to the governor’s decision to pause it indefinitely.
City & State’s inaugural Hudson Valley Power 100 identifies the region’s most influential figures. While there is some debate of what exactly constitutes the Hudson Valley, this list covers seven counties: Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester. Read on to meet the public officials, business owners, hospital executives, college and university presidents, and others shaping the future of the Hudson Valley.
90. Meghan Taylor
The throughline of Meghan Taylor’s professional career has been a focus on economic development in the Hudson Valley. For more than four years, she’s been a driving force at Genting Americas’ Resorts World Catskills casino in Monticello and was essential in getting its Resorts World Hudson Valley site in Newburgh opened in 2022. Previously, Taylor served as vice president and regional director for Empire State Development with a focus on the Mid-Hudson region, where she supported hundreds of projects.
