Eleni Kounalakis | |
|---|---|
 Kounalakis in 2021 | |
| 50th Lieutenant Governor of California | |
| Assumed office January 7, 2019 | |
| Governor | Gavin Newsom |
| Preceded by | Gavin Newsom |
| United States Ambassador to Hungary | |
| In office January 11, 2010 – July 20, 2013 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | April H. Foley |
| Succeeded by | Colleen Bell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Eleni Tsakopoulos March 3, 1966 Sacramento, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Angelo Tsakopoulos (father) George Tsakopoulos (uncle) George Demos (brother-in-law) |
| Education | Dartmouth College (BA) University of California, Berkeley (MBA) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | Government website |
Eleni Kounalakis[a] (née Tsakopoulos;[b] born March 3, 1966) is an American politician, businesswoman, and diplomat serving as the 50th lieutenant governor of California since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, she is the first woman[c] and the first Greek American elected to the office.
Kounalakis graduated from Dartmouth College with a Bachelor of Arts degree before attending University of California, Berkeley, where she obtained a Master of Business Administration. After graduation, she worked for AKT Development Corporation, a Sacramento-based real estate company founded by her father, Angelo Tsakopoulos, eventually serving as president of the company until 2010.
Kounalakis was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as the United States Ambassador to Hungary from 2010 to 2013. She was elected lieutenant governor of California in 2018, and reelected in 2022. As lieutenant governor, she attempted to disqualify Donald Trump from the 2024 presidential election following the Colorado Supreme Court's ruling in Anderson v. Griswold. She was subsequently doxxed and swatted, part of a pattern of criminal intimidation nationwide.
On April 24, 2023, Kounalakis announced her candidacy for governor of California in the 2026 California gubernatorial election.[1][2]
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).
- ^ "Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis announces early bid in 2026 California governor's race". Los Angeles Times. April 24, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- ^ "Eleni Kounalakis first to launch campaign for California governor in 2026". POLITICO. April 24, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2023.