While TIME’s editors will choose the TIME 100 — our annual list of the most influential people in the world — we want readers to have a say too. Cast your vote here for the people in U.S. politics you think have changed the world this past year, for better or worse. Voting closes at 11:59 p.m. on April 22, and the winner of our reader poll will be announced April 23. This year’s official TIME 100 list will be announced April 24.
Click here to vote in other categories: World, Business & Tech, Culture & Fashion, Movies & TV, Music, Media and Sports. See the poll results in real time here.
Barack Obama
The U.S. President spent much of the year encouraging uninsured Americans to sign up for the Affordable Care Act and — after initial website setbacks — eked out the Administration’s goal of 7 million sign-ups.
Hillary Clinton
The question on everyone’s lips is whether 2016 will be Hillary’s year, but 2014 will see the publication of her memoir, sure to be a blockbuster.
Chris Christie
The once rising GOP star could still be felled by investigations into the closing of a New Jersey bridge.
Kirsten Gillibrand
This New York Senator is an accomplished lawmaker who is now one of the Democratic Party’s rising stars. She made headlines for her efforts to change the way the military handles rape and sexual assault.
Michael Bloomberg
After 12 years as mayor of New York City, Bloomberg was appointed U.N. special envoy for cities and climate change, giving the billionaire a new platform to effect change.
Jerry Brown
With shrewd budget cuts and taxes, the Democratic governor of California rescued the state from the brink of financial ruin.
Ted Cruz
The Tea Party favorite for 2016 shifted the GOP — and the country — further to the right when he won his Texas Senate seat in 2012. His influence in the state shows that the Tea Party’s not dead yet.
Wendy Davis
Davis skyrocketed into the national spotlight after her 11-hour filibuster of antiabortion legislation went viral, which led to her clinching the Democratic nomination in the upcoming Texas governor’s race.
Bill de Blasio
This liberal Brooklyn dad once seemed like a long shot for New York City mayor, but de Blasio won the competitive race by a landslide after running as an anti-Bloomberg who pledged to end the NYPD’s controversial stop-and-frisk program.
Eric Holder
Although Obama’s Attorney General continues to grapple with the NSA, he has encouraged the recognition of gay marriage on the state level and has taken a leading role in pushing for criminal-justice reforms.
Anthony Kennedy
As the court’s swing vote, this longtime Justice wrote the majority opinion that struck down parts of the Defense of Marriage Act.
Sheldon Adelson
Adelson spent at least $100 million backing Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney and other conservatives in 2012. Now the GOP race for this billionaire’s support in 2016 is heating up.
John Kerry
This busy Secretary of State made high-level contact with Iran while grappling with crises in Syria and Ukraine and attempting to broker peace between Israel and Palestine.
David and Charles Koch
The billionaire brothers known for backing GOP candidates are key players in the midterm elections through their network of outside groups.
Elizabeth Warren
Since joining the Senate last year, the former Harvard law professor has become a favorite of the left by pressing Wall Street banks and presenting herself as a megaphone for the middle class.
Claire McCaskill
The former sex-crimes prosecutor turned Missouri Senator has reformed the U.S. military’s approach to sexual-assault cases after her bill unanimously passed in the Senate this year.
Mitch McConnell
The Senate minority leader will be facing challenges from the left and the right this November. His biggest hope, should he outlast his competitors as expected? A new title next year: majority leader.
Michelle Obama
The U.S. First Lady spent most of the year advocating for childhood fitness while campaigning for young people to get covered by the Affordable Care Act.
Rand Paul
The freshman Senator from Kentucky, who has become a lightning rod in Washington, is expected to run for President in 2016.
Harry Reid
The Nevada Senator must keep the Democratic Party together, with its control of the U.S. Senate and his spot in the majority leader’s office in the balance this year.
Scott Walker
The Wisconsin governor sparked debate with his controversial budget cuts in 2011, which limited collective-bargaining rights. He’s up for re-election in November.
Janet Yellen
As the newly appointed chair of the Federal Reserve, Yellen holds the keys to the world’s largest economy.
Which business and tech titans should be on the TIME 100? Vote now.
Click here to vote in other categories: World, Culture & Fashion, Movies & TV, Music, Media, and Sports. See the poll results in real time here.
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Barack Obama
The U.S. President spent much of the year encouraging uninsured Americans to sign up for the Affordable Care Act and — after initial website setbacks — eked out the Administration’s goal of 7 million sign-ups.
-
Hillary Clinton
The question on everyone’s lips is whether 2016 will be Hillary’s year, but 2014 will see the publication of her memoir, sure to be a blockbuster.
-
Chris Christie
The once rising GOP star could still be felled by investigations into the closing of a New Jersey bridge.
-
Kirsten Gillibrand
This New York Senator is an accomplished lawmaker who is now one of the Democratic Party’s rising stars. She made headlines for her efforts to change the way the military handles rape and sexual assault.
-
Michael Bloomberg
After 12 years as mayor of New York City, Bloomberg was appointed U.N. special envoy for cities and climate change, giving the billionaire a new platform to effect change.
-
Jerry Brown
With shrewd budget cuts and taxes, the Democratic governor of California rescued the state from the brink of financial ruin.
-
Ted Cruz
The Tea Party favorite for 2016 shifted the GOP — and the country — further to the right when he won his Texas Senate seat in 2012. His influence in the state shows that the Tea Party’s not dead yet.
-
Wendy Davis
Davis skyrocketed into the national spotlight after her 11-hour filibuster of antiabortion legislation went viral, which led to her clinching the Democratic nomination in the upcoming Texas governor’s race.
-
Bill de Blasio
This liberal Brooklyn dad once seemed like a long shot for New York City mayor, but de Blasio won the competitive race by a landslide after running as an anti-Bloomberg who pledged to end the NYPD’s controversial stop-and-frisk program.
-
Eric Holder
Although Obama’s Attorney General continues to grapple with the NSA, he has encouraged the recognition of gay marriage on the state level and has taken a leading role in pushing for criminal-justice reforms.
-
Anthony Kennedy
As the court’s swing vote, this longtime Justice wrote the majority opinion that struck down parts of the Defense of Marriage Act.
-
Sheldon Adelson
Adelson spent at least $100 million backing Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney and other conservatives in 2012. Now the GOP race for this billionaire’s support in 2016 is heating up.
-
John Kerry
This busy Secretary of State made high-level contact with Iran while grappling with crises in Syria and Ukraine and attempting to broker peace between Israel and Palestine.
-
David and Charles Koch
The billionaire brothers known for backing GOP candidates are key players in the midterm elections through their network of outside groups.
-
Elizabeth Warren
Since joining the Senate last year, the former Harvard law professor has become a favorite of the left by pressing Wall Street banks and presenting herself as a megaphone for the middle class.
-
Claire McCaskill
The former sex-crimes prosecutor turned Missouri Senator has reformed the U.S. military’s approach to sexual-assault cases after her bill unanimously passed in the Senate this year.
-
Mitch McConnell
The Senate minority leader will be facing challenges from the left and the right this November. His biggest hope, should he outlast his competitors as expected? A new title next year: majority leader.
-
Michelle Obama
The U.S. First Lady spent most of the year advocating for childhood fitness while campaigning for young people to get covered by the Affordable Care Act.
-
Rand Paul
The freshman Senator from Kentucky, who has become a lightning rod in Washington, is expected to run for President in 2016.
-
Harry Reid
The Nevada Senator must keep the Democratic Party together, with its control of the U.S. Senate and his spot in the majority leader’s office in the balance this year.
-
Scott Walker
The Wisconsin governor sparked debate with his controversial budget cuts in 2011, which limited collective-bargaining rights. He’s up for re-election in November.
-
Janet Yellen
As the newly appointed chair of the Federal Reserve, Yellen holds the keys to the world’s largest economy.
Which business and tech titans should be on the TIME 100? Vote now.
Click here to vote in other categories: World, Culture & Fashion, Movies & TV, Music, Media, and Sports. See the poll results in real time here.
