Eleni Kounalakis
Eleni Kounalakis[a] (née Tsakopoulos;[b] born March 3, 1966) is an American politician, businesswoman, and diplomat who is the 50th lieutenant governor of California, elected in 2018. A Democrat, she is the first woman elected to the office[c] and was United States Ambassador to Hungary from 2010 to 2013.
Eleni Kounalakis
In 2019, Kounalakis became lieutenant governor of California, after winning the 2018 election.
On April 24, 2023, Kounalakis announced her candidacy for governor of California in the 2026 California gubernatorial election.[1][2]
Early life[edit]
Eleni Kounalakis is the daughter of Angelo Tsakopoulos, a Sacramento developer.[3] Kounalakis is of Greek descent and grew up a member of the Greek Orthodox Church.[4]
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.[5]
Personal life[edit]
Eleni Tsakopoulos married Markos Kounalakis in 2000.[27] They have two sons.[28]
In 2011, she received an Honorary Doctor of Law from the American College of Greece.[29]