17 Facts About Eleni Kounalakis

Eleni Kounalakis is an American politician, businesswoman, and diplomat serving as the 50th lieutenant governor of California since 2019.

Eleni Kounalakis was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as the United States Ambassador to Hungary from 2010 to 2013.

Eleni Kounalakis was elected lieutenant governor of California in 2018, and reelected in 2022.

Eleni Kounalakis was doxxed and swatted, part of a pattern of criminal intimidation nationwide.

Eleni Kounalakis is the daughter of Angelo Tsakopoulos, a Sacramento developer.

Eleni Kounalakis is of Greek descent and grew up a member of the Greek Orthodox Church.

Eleni Kounalakis received her undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and a Master of Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley's Haas School of Business.

Eleni Kounalakis served for nearly ten years as a Trustee of the World Council of Religions for Peace.

Eleni Kounalakis is a friend and former mentee of Kamala Harris.

Eleni Kounalakis served four times as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention and as an at-large member of the California State Democratic Central Committee.

Eleni Kounalakis served as a member of the First 5 California Commission, and the California Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism.

Eleni Kounalakis served as a Trustee of Robert Redford's Sundance Preserve and on the Conservation Fund's National Forum on Children and Nature.

Eleni Kounalakis is a senior advisor at Albright Stonebridge Group.

In 2009, Eleni Kounalakis accepted President Barack Obama's nomination to an ambassadorship.

Eleni Kounalakis came in first place on June 5,2018, in the top-two statewide primary; Democratic State Senator Ed Hernandez placed second.

Eleni Kounalakis announced her candidacy for governor in the 2026 election on April 24,2023.

Eleni Kounalakis serves on the Regents of the University of California.