Polling Average
30%20%10%0%
5.6%
26.1%
16.0%
7.8%
7.5%
5.7%
5.6%
5.1%
California Governor primary advancers? (Person)
$8.1M
JUL 2, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleLieutenant Governor
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
Age60 years old (Mar 3, 1966)
GenderFemale
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LocationCalifornia
BackgroundPolitician
EducationDartmouth College (BA)
Notable personal detailsEleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis is an American politician, businesswoman, and diplomat who has served as the 50th Lieutenant Governor of California since 2019. She previously served as U.S. Ambassador to Hungary and has worked in real estate development and civic philanthropy. She is a Dartmouth College graduate and has focused in office on higher education governance and international affairs and trade development for California.
SourcesShowHide
en.wikipedia.orgwikidata.orggov.ca.govltg.ca.goves.wikipedia.orgeleniforca.comjoincalifornia.comvigarchive.sos.ca.govfr.wikipedia.orgstanforddaily.comcalmatters.orgsenate.ca.govwomenscaucus.legislature.ca.govarxiv.orgvig.cdn.sos.ca.govelections.cdn.sos.ca.govcdnth.thenationalherald.comeleni-kounalakis.squarespace.compolitico.comabcnews.go.comemilyslist.orgeqca.orgprogressivevotersguide.comapnews.comvoterguide.ballotpedia.orgballotready.orgnga.orgcongress.govdeveloper.ballotpedia.orggovinfo.govjustfacts.votesmart.orgkiley.house.govdocs.house.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
No clear, direct public position on specific tax-rate changes or comprehensive tax reform is found in available official statements. Public materials emphasize fiscal responsibility, support for state investments in workforce development, relief for small businesses and affordable education, and a pledge to use a blind trust for personal holdings if elected to higher office. These statements show support for targeted public spending and fiscal stewardship but do not specify whether she favors tax increases or cuts on particular groups or rates.
Healthcare
Supports universal healthcare and places a single-payer/Medicare for All solution at the center of proposals for expanding coverage; endorses protecting and expanding Medi‑Cal access and preparing California to pursue a state-level universal plan if a federal solution is not adopted.
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Immigration & Border
The candidate supports protecting immigrant communities, defending DACA recipients, and creating legal pathways to citizenship for specific groups such as farmworkers. She criticizes large-scale enforcement actions (ICE raids) and frames immigrants as vital to California’s economy and communities. Her public statements emphasize defending immigrants’ rights while promoting integration and economic contributions.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports protecting and expanding access to abortion and reproductive healthcare, sponsored and co-sponsored measures to enshrine abortion and contraception rights in the California Constitution, and has defended access to abortion medication and providers. Has publicly called for California to lead efforts to safeguard reproductive rights after the overturning of Roe v. Wade and opposed challenges to mifepristone access.
Climate & Energy
Eleni Kounalakis has led and supported aggressive clean-energy initiatives as Lieutenant Governor, including advancing offshore wind development, decommissioning legacy oil infrastructure, and endorsing a transition to 100% renewable energy by 2045. She has represented California at international climate forums and promoted policies to reduce carbon emissions and invest in clean-technology deployment and climate resilience.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate supports stronger federal and state gun safety measures and has publicly praised proposals to end gun violence through nationwide gun-safety reforms. She has called for federal gun control and endorsed California efforts to pursue constitutional and statutory changes to reduce gun violence.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedMar 14, 2026
Eleni Kounalakis is in the mix of a crowded 2026 California governor’s race that has Democrats worried their vote could splinter under the state’s top-two primary system. Party leaders have pushed low-polling Democrats to consider dropping out, but efforts to narrow the field have largely failed and sparked internal tension. The California Democratic Party is also launching an expensive polling program starting March 24 to measure where candidates stand and potentially pressure weaker campaigns to exit as Republicans currently show strength in some polling.
en.wikipedia.org+32
Articles
SRSanta Rosa Press Democrat3 months ago
Governor’s race coming into ‘focus’ as Swalwell, Hilton lead new polls
Neutral
SASanta Ana Orange County Register3 months ago
With no clear frontrunner in the race for governor, the California Democratic Party has a new, costly strategy ahead of the primary election
Neutral
SRSanta Rosa Press Democrat3 months ago
With no clear frontrunner in the race for governor, California Democrats have a new, costly strategy ahead of the primary election
Neutral
LALos Angeles Times3 months ago
California Dems launch polling effort to winnow gubernatorial field
Neutral
Polls
California Governor primary advancers? (Person)
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements
- Fundraising