Eleni Kounalakis
Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis (born 1966) is an American politician and businesswoman. She is the 50th Lieutenant Governor of California since January 2019. She is a member of the Democratic Party.
Eleni Kounalakis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 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 Foley |
| Succeeded by | Colleen Bell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Eleni Tsakopoulos March 3, 1966 Sacramento, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Markos Kounalakis |
| Relatives | Angelo Tsakopoulos (father) George Tsakopoulos (uncle) |
| Education | Dartmouth College (BA) University of California, Berkeley (MBA) |
Before entering politics, she was the United States Ambassador to Hungary from 2010 to 2013 during the Barack Obama presidency. She was sworn into office on January 7, 2010.
On April 24, 2017, Kounalakis announced her bid for the office of Lieutenant Governor of California in the 2018 election and came in first place in the June 2018 primary election, followed closely by State Senator Ed Hernandez.[1] Kounalakis was elected as Lieutenant Governor alongside Gavin Newsom as Governor on November 6, 2018.[2]
News about Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis' bid for governor was broke by Politico on April 24, 2023.
References
- "Kounalakis, Hernandez finish top two in tight CA lieutenant governor race - SFChronicle.com". www.sfgate.com. 6 June 2018.
- "Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis - People - Department History - Office of the Historian". history.state.gov.