Daniel Willard Cohen (June 10, 1936 – April 4, 2024)[2] was an American author, businessperson and politician from Minneapolis, Minnesota.

[5] As a member of City Council, Cohen was the original sponsor and supporter of the Minneapolis Industrial Development Commission.

[7] He supported long range residential street paving[7] and the establishment of a municipal Human Rights Commission.

[7] While working for Wheelock Whitney, Jr.'s 1982 gubernatorial campaign, Cohen agreed to pass some documents with information about DFL Lieutenant Governor candidate Marlene Johnson's criminal history to reporters of the Minneapolis Star and Tribune and the St. Paul Pioneer Press in exchange for their promises of confidentiality.

[12] The newspapers nevertheless exposed Cohen, who lost his job with the campaign and sued Star Tribune owner Cowles Media Company.