Greek-American politicians are preparing for the November 3 midterm elections with at least 50 candidacies across 20 states, seeking positions ranging from the US Congress to state legislatures, county offices and the judiciary.
Representing both Republicans and Democrats, the candidates reflect the broad geographic reach of Americans of Greek descent in public office. Some have spent decades in government, while others are attempting to establish political careers in areas with relatively small Greek-American populations.
The elections will also bring several developments for Greek-American political representation, including a possible return to the US Senate after more than a decade without a senator of Greek descent. Meanwhile, six incumbent members of the House of Representatives are seeking additional terms, and other prominent figures are pursuing statewide executive positions.
Beyond Washington, the ballot includes candidates in major population centers such as New York, Chicago and Boston, as well as smaller communities in Kentucky, Oregon, Pennsylvania and the Midwest.
Greek-American representation in Congress faces November vote
The campaign for New Hampshire’s open US Senate seat has placed Democratic Congressman Chris Pappas in the national political spotlight. The four-term House member is challenging former Republican Senator John Sununu in a contest that could make Pappas the first Greek-American elected to the Senate since Olympia Snowe, whose service representing Maine ended in January 2013.
Pappas has represented New Hampshire’s First Congressional District since 2019 and has maintained a particular interest in US relations with Greece and Cyprus. As co-chair of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus, he has supported measures to strengthen military cooperation with Greece and initiatives concerning Cyprus and security in the Eastern Mediterranean.
His congressional activities have also included opposition to Turkey’s possible return to the F-35 fighter jet program while Ankara continues to possess Russian-made S-400 missile systems.
Sununu also has distant Greek ancestry through his paternal family. His grandmother, Victoria Dada, was born in El Salvador to a Greek mother, while other relatives belonged to Jerusalem’s Greek Orthodox community. His father, John H. Sununu, acknowledged the family’s Greek, Lebanese, and Latin American heritage in a 1988 interview with The Washington Post.
Recent polling has shown Pappas ahead of Sununu. A Saint Anselm College survey conducted October 19–20 placed the Democrat at 50 percent and his Republican opponent at 43 percent. The RealClearPolling average for September 15 through October 20 recorded a similar margin, 49.5 percent to 43 percent.
The six Greek-American members of the House seeking reelection are divided between four Republicans and two Democrats, with Florida accounting for three of the Republican incumbents.
Gus Bilirakis, who has served in Congress since 2007, is running for another term in Florida’s 12th District against Democrat Kimberly Overman. The son of former Congressman Michael Bilirakis, he has developed an extensive congressional record on Greek and Cypriot affairs and shares leadership of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus with Pappas.
Bilirakis faces a different electoral map following redistricting. In 2024, he defeated his Democratic opponent by approximately 42 percentage points, although current projections suggest a narrower contest under the district’s revised boundaries.
His fellow Florida Republicans Mike Haridopolos and Jimmy Patronis are also seeking reelection. Haridopolos, a former Florida Senate president, faces Democrat Jennifer Jenkins in the Eighth District, while Patronis, who previously served as Florida’s chief financial officer, is running against Democrat Gay Valimont in the First District.
New York Republican Nicole Malliotakis is seeking another term in the 11th District, covering Staten Island and sections of southern Brooklyn. She faces Democrat Mike DeCillis, a former police officer and educator.
Her district was at the center of a redistricting dispute after a New York court ordered changes to its boundaries. In March, the US Supreme Court blocked that order while further legal proceedings continued, allowing the existing congressional map to remain in place for the election.
The two Democratic House incumbents seeking reelection are Dina Titus of Nevada and Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire.
Titus, a longtime congressional representative who has also been active on Greek and Cypriot issues, faces Republican Carrie Buck in Nevada’s First District.
Goodlander is competing against Republican Lily Tang Williams in New Hampshire’s Second District, a rematch of their 2024 election. Her family traces its Greek roots to Avdella, a village in the Pindus Mountains of northern Greece.
Although the seven congressional candidates have different political affiliations and domestic policy positions, their campaigns collectively place Greek-American politicians in federal contests across five states, with the New Hampshire Senate race providing an opportunity for representation in the upper chamber.
Statewide contests and legislative races expand the Greek-American ballot
Outside Congress, several Greek-American politicians are seeking positions with responsibilities over statewide finances, public administration and government oversight.
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is involved in two separate election campaigns. The Democrat is seeking another term against Republican Diane Harris on November 3 while preparing to compete for mayor of Chicago in February 2027.
Giannoulias, a former Illinois state treasurer, has assembled substantial campaign resources for the Chicago contest. He filed mayoral nominating petitions in October while continuing his statewide reelection campaign.
Another high-profile statewide candidate is California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, who is seeking the position of state treasurer against Republican Jennifer Hawks. The daughter of Greek-American businessman Angelo Tsakopoulos, Kounalakis previously served as US ambassador to Hungary.
The treasurer’s office oversees California’s investments, borrowing and major financial transactions, giving the contest a different focus from the lieutenant governorship Kounalakis currently holds.
Connecticut Democrat Susan Bysiewicz and Nevada Republican Stavros Anthony are both running for additional terms as lieutenant governors.
Anthony faces Democrat Sandra Jauregui, while Massachusetts Democratic State Auditor Diana DiZoglio is also seeking reelection.
Greek-American participation becomes more extensive in state legislative elections, particularly in the Northeast, where numerous incumbents are attempting to remain in office.
In Pennsylvania, one race has an unusual feature: both major-party candidates have Greek ancestry. Democratic State Representative Steven Malagari faces Republican Yanni Lambros in the 53rd District, which includes communities in Montgomery County.
The state also has Democratic Senator Maria Tzanakis-Collett seeking another term against Republican Robert Costello.
New York features several established Greek-American legislators. Democratic State Senators Andrew Gounardes and James Skoufis are running for reelection, while Republican Pamela Michos is challenging Democratic Senator Toby Ann Stavisky.
Republican Assembly members Michael Tannousis and John Lemondes are also seeking additional terms. Tannousis represents a district including Staten Island and Brooklyn, while Lemondes serves central New York.
Across New England, candidates from both parties are seeking legislative seats.
Connecticut Democrats Christopher Poulos, Eleni Kavros DeGraw and Savet Constantine are running alongside Republican incumbents Nicole Klarides-Ditria and Tina Courpas.
In Massachusetts, Republican Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, Democratic Senator John Velis and Republican Representative Steven Xiarhos are seeking reelection without opponents from the other major party.
New Hampshire’s legislative candidates include Democrats Benjamin Baroody, Efstathia Booras and Louis Juris, along with Republican Elena Pavlou. Rhode Island Democrat Lou Raptakis and Delaware Democrat Spiros Mantzavinos are also seeking further terms in their respective state senates.
The list extends into the Midwest, where candidates of Greek descent hold or seek offices in Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Michigan Democrat Penelope Tsernoglou and Republican Lynn Afendoulis are competing in State House elections, while Republican Chris Moraitis is running for the State Senate.
Ohio Republican Steve Demetriou is seeking a Senate seat against Democrat Mike Roberto, and Republican Sophia Tjotjos faces Democrat Scott DiMauro in a State House contest. Wisconsin Republican John Spiros is also running for reelection.
In the South, Georgia Republicans Chuck Efstration and Mike Cheokas are seeking to retain their legislative seats. Efstration is running unopposed, while Cheokas faces Democratic and independent opposition.
Two additional Republican candidates illustrate the different paths into state politics. In Kentucky, businessman and Clark County magistrate Daniel Konstantopoulos is challenging Democrat Chelsea Kirk for the open 73rd House District seat. Konstantopoulos has served three terms in county government and has campaigned on economic development, business regulation and public safety.
Oregon State Representative Alek Skarlatos, meanwhile, is running without an opponent in the Fourth District. Skarlatos entered public life after receiving international recognition for helping stop an armed attacker aboard a train in France in 2015. He later pursued congressional office before winning a state legislative seat in 2024. Also, in Arizona, Democrat Stacey Travers is seeking another term in the state’s House of Representatives. In the meantime, in South Carolina, Democratic Representative Leonidas Stavrinakis is also competing for another term.
The Greek-American presence also reaches county administration and judicial elections, where candidates seek offices outside traditional partisan legislative politics. In Illinois, Republican Patricia Kladis-Schiappa is running for DuPage County clerk against Democrat Paula Deacon Garcia.
In Cook County, longtime Democratic Treasurer Maria Pappas is seeking another term, with independent write-in candidate Richard Mayers challenging her. Pappas oversees an office responsible for handling billions of dollars in property tax collections and distributions.
Washington state provides a judicial example, with Supreme Court Justice Theo Angelis competing against former municipal judge Dave Larson in a nonpartisan election for another term on the state’s highest court.
The contests will be decided on November 3, with successful congressional candidates taking office in January 2027. Chicago voters will return to the polls on February 23 for the municipal election, in which Giannoulias is among the candidates seeking the mayor’s office.
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