California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis introduced she is working for governor on Monday, laying down an early marker for what’s prone to be a vigorous 2026 marketing campaign to switch termed-out Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The Democrat asserted in her announcement that she is effectively certified for the put up due to the mix of her expertise in authorities — two phrases in her present workplace in addition to serving as U.S. ambassador to Hungary in the course of the Obama administration — in addition to within the non-public sector, the place she lead a Sacramento growth firm based by her father.
“Because the proud daughter of an immigrant who got here to California with nothing, my household owes every part to this state — I’m working for governor to make sure all Californians have the alternatives we’ve had,” Kounalakis stated in a press release.
Her household is rich and has spent generously on their political priorities, together with Kounalakis’ lieutenant governor’s race and Phil Angelides’ unsuccessful 2006 gubernatorial run.
The 57-year-old’s announcement that she was opening a gubernatorial marketing campaign committee permits her to lift $72,800 per donor, and mirrors Newsom’s resolution to enter the 2018 governor’s race three years early. The pair are suggested by the identical political consultants.
The race to steer the world’s fifth-largest financial system is predicted to attract many contenders from a big pool of bold Democratic politicians in search of their subsequent perch.
If Kounalakis is profitable, she can be the primary lady elected to steer the state. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and former Hewlett-Packard chief Meg Whitman are among the many ladies who’ve unsuccessfully run for the put up.
“We have now by no means had a lady governor of the state of California. If I don’t attempt to arrange a marketing campaign to be the primary, who will?” Kounalakis informed The Instances in 2022.
The lieutenant governor’s put up is seen as largely ceremonial, however two of the state’s final 4 governors held the put up — Newsom and former Gov. Grey Davis. Kounalakis highlighted her work within the job opposing tuition hikes and different insurance policies that will probably be well-liked with the state’s liberal voters.
“I’ve fought laborious to maintain the doorways of alternative open for all by making faculty extra accessible, took on the Trump administration’s makes an attempt to broaden offshore drilling, fought for brand spanking new legal guidelines to guard ladies from sexual assault, and expanded entry to reproductive selection.”
