The current US elections are of increased interest to Greece. In addition to electing a new president, Americans are electing, always by a majority system, the new 435 members of the House of Representatives, representing an equal number of constituencies in the country, and 33 senators, one-third of the members of the Senate.
There are seven Greek-American from the diaspora running as candidates in this election. Four are seeking re-election, and the other three are trying their hand for the first time. Their election is vital to our national interests. The coming period portends important geopolitical developments in our wider neighbourhood.
Wars are raging in Ukraine and the Middle East, Greek-Turkish relations are a field of fierce competition, while Cyprus remains a festering sore. At the same time, Greek-American relations have taken off. A constituent element of the strategic cooperation between the two countries is Greece’s increased role as a powerful factor in regional security and stability in the region. This translates into a preferential flow of American investment and armaments to our country.
For this to be maintained and developed in the coming years, it needs valuable assistance of the Greek-American lobby in the power centers of Washington, primarily in Congress. History has proven that with their votes and influence in their parties, Greek American senators and congressmen have often prevented negative developments on our national issues or, conversely, have accelerated positive legislative initiatives for our country’s interests.
Always in cooperation with other members of Congress who are favorable to Greece. Such as the recently resigned due to a corruption scandal, now former senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Bob Menendez. All of the expatriate elected officials remain Americans, of course. However, they honor their origins and in defending Greek interests they operate above partisan criteria, which is why their election is of great importance to Greece.
Who they are
Of the Greek-American candidates, three have their re-election almost locked in. Gas Bilirakis and Nicol Malliotaki with the Republicans in Florida and New York, respectively, and Dina Titus with the Democrats in Nevada. A tougher battle, but with a strong lead, is for Chris Pope of the Democrats in New Hampshire. New entries, Democratic candidates John Avlon in New York with fewer and Maggie Goodlander in New Hampshire with a better chance of being elected. And Republican Demi Kuzuna in Maine, the only candidate for Senate. This is significant, as the last Greek-American representation in the Senate dates back to 2012, under Olympia Snow.
The last time the Senate was held in Georgia was under the leadership of Olympia Sloan, the last time the Senate was held in the House of Representatives.
A notable loss is the retirement from active politics of 61-year-old Maryland Democratic Congressman John Sarbanes. Thus, closes the circle of a Greek-American political dynasty that lasted more than half a century. His father, Paul Sarbanes, along with Michael Doukakis and John Bradimas, formed the trio of expatriate politicians whose actions paved the way for other members of the Greek-American community to become involved in active politics, dramatically raising their social status, political influence and interventionism.
The Greek-American candidates seek the full support of the expatriates, which of course alone is not enough. Greek Americans are unofficially estimated at 1.3-1.5 million, and twice as many say they are of Greek descent. They vote, like the majority of their fellow citizens, based on their economic situation first, followed by security, immigration, and other everyday issues. Of course, Greek issues influence their vote, but differently on a case-by-case basis.
Gas Bilirakis: Stable value
61-year-old Republican Gas Bilirakis is running for the seat in Florida’s 12th District. An area north of the capital city of Tampa, with an abundant Greek element, even painfully affected by the two recent deadly natural disasters “Helen” and “Milton”. He has been elected uninterruptedly since 2006 and is expected to add to his 18 years in Congress, as the latest polls give him a 99% chance of re-election.
His opponent, just 27-year-old Democrat Rock Abundage Jr, an environmental analyst. But how has Bilirakis built this political status in Florida? A clear answer is provided by the Tampa Bay Times, the state’s leading newspaper, declaring outright support for him. As they wrote, “Bilirakis is the best choice for District 12. He represents the values of the district and does not discriminate when voters turn to his office for help. He proves he represents everyone, not just Republicans. He doesn’t often seek the spotlight. Instead, he works consistently and gets it done.”
Labour, deeply Democratic, and fair-minded, Gainesville-born Gus Bilirakis has degrees from the University of Florida in political science and Stetson Law School. He owes a lot to his father, Michael Bilirakis, for 24 years in Congress. He inherited from him, in addition to political DNA and a Florida seat, a love of country and an affinity for defending national Greek interests.
Speaking at the Economist conference, he praised “Greece’s most important role as a US ally in the Eastern Mediterranean”, stating that “this alliance will deepen further regardless of the outcome of the US elections”. With an excellent relationship with Donald Trump, if elected president, he is expected to influence any moves he makes regarding Greece.
Nicol Malliotaki: Heading to New York
With overwhelming odds of victory (Betting Hill gives her 95%), Nicol Malliotaki is projected to run in New York’s 11th District, which includes South Brooklyn and Staten Island. There she broke the Democratic incumbent from 2020. Her opponent is Andrea Morse, a rather weak candidate. The 43-year-old congresswoman is the daughter of immigrants. Her father, George, is Greek, while her mother, Vera, is Cuban. She has a communications and public relations degree from Seton Hall University in New Jersey and a master’s degree in business administration from Wagner College in Staten Island.
She worked as a communications consultant to State Senator John Marchi, as a community liaison to Governor George Pataki (2004-2006), and as director of public relations for the electric utility Consolidated Edison Inc. Extremely popular, she was elected five consecutive times as a state legislator in 2010, just 29 years old.
In between, she was defeated as a candidate for New York City mayor in 2017 by Bill de Blasio. But the fact that she got 70% of the vote in Staten Island encouraged her to decide to run for the main political stage. She secured the Republican nomination and managed to defeat incumbent Democratic Congressman Max Rose 53.2% to 46.8%. And in an informal runoff in 2022, he crushed him, taking 62% of the vote to 38%.
Firmly on Trump’s side, Malliotaki passionately defended him in his most difficult moments, when he refused to acknowledge John Biden’s victory in the 2020 election and supported his claims of election fraud. He has an excellent relationship with the Greek community, frequently visits Greece and defends Greek positions wherever he participates. Especially when it comes to US policy towards Greece and Turkey, where he contrasts our country’s responsible stance with the neighbour’s anti-alliance behavior. And he is leading the charge in Congress on all initiatives to block the White House’s plans for Turkey’s armaments.
Dina Titus: For an eighth term
With the wind of polls echoing and a major project, 74-year-old Alice Dina Titus is running for re-election to the House in Nevada’s 1st District against Republican retired officer Mark Robertson. She narrowly defeated him in 2022 with 51.6% to 46%. He has been elected continuously since 2009, with the sole exception of the 2011-2012 biennium. He appears to be winning the election now. Beyond the polls and bettors’ estimates, a strong indication in her favor is that Republicans who had boosted their chosen candidate’s campaign the year before last with $9 million in this election seemed very frugal, at 1/6.
Titus is focusing her campaign on addressing poverty, solving the housing problem (No. 1 in Nevada) and defending abortion rights. She touts Kamala Harris’ housing plan, which includes the construction of 3 million homes and up to $25,000 in assistance for eligible first-time homebuyers.
Born in Thomasville, Georgia, educated in political science at the University of Georgia and Florida State University, married to Thomas Wright, and a professor of political science at the University of Las Vegas for 34 consecutive years (1977-2011), Titus is an ardent defender of human rights and Greek national rights. She passionately supports the Greek government’s efforts to build strong alliances in the region, especially with Israel, and to strengthen bilateral relations between the United States and Cyprus, stressing at every opportunity that “it is finally time for Turkey to leave Cyprus.”
Chris Pope: MP and restaurateur
New Hampshire’s 44-year-old expatriate congressman, Chris Pope, is no random person. He is perhaps the most promising up-and-comer in the Greek-American lobby. He was first elected in 2018, so he is seeking a fourth consecutive term in the state’s 1st District. He has a clear lead in the polls, however his task is not easy as his opponent, Russell Prescott, former state senator and owner of RE Prescott Company, is one of the less polarizing Republican candidates.
So he can infiltrate the centrist space and siphon off Pope voters. who won the 2022 election by 8 points against the hardline Caroline Leavitt, Trump’s White House press adviser. The Pope was born in Manchester, New Hampshire to parents of Greek descent, Arthur and Dawn. In 1917 Arthur’s great-grandfather’s namesake and his cousin Louis Canota opened an ice cream shop, which they later expanded into a restaurant.
Today it’s called the Puritan Backroom. A business in which Chris has been a co-owner since 2020. He studied political science at Harvard University. He is the first member of Congress to be openly gay. In 2023, he married his partner Van Bentley. Running for the Democratic nomination for the first time in 2018, he showed his potential by beating ten of his running mates.
The Lugar Center ranked him as the most “bipartisan Democrat” and the third most “bipartisan” member of Congress last term. He has consistently fought for Greek interests. He has often led the charge in Congress to block favorable moves toward Turkey, such as the sale of fighter jets.
John Avlon: CNN analyst
Of the new entrants into American politics, expatriate John Avlon is up against Republican Congressman Nick LaLotta for New York’s 1st District seat on Long Island. Although a newcomer, he presents an increased chance of pulling off the upset. This was confirmed by a New York Times report, noting that his campaign has been going well.
Avlon hails from Samos and Corfu and is considered one of the rising political stars of the GOP and Democrats. He is 51, a family man with two children, a journalist and analyst for CNN, author of the book “Lincoln and the Battle for Peace.” Combative and sufficiently communicative, he has made successful appearances in successive debates with La Lota, a Navy veteran.
He has Hillary Clinton’s endorsement. His central campaign slogan is that “we need to build a broad patriotic coalition to defeat Donald Trump, defend democracy, and restore the middle class with common sense solutions.” He has purchased a home in the Sag Harbor neighborhood as early as 2009 as a vacation home. La Lota accuses him of being an “imported” candidate, an “elitist from Manhattan” who has no direct connection or contact with that constituency.
Maggie Goodlander: Biden’s adviser
37-year-old Maggie Goodlander is running for a congressional seat in New Hampshire’s 2nd District. Her opponent is Republican Lily Tang Williams. Goodlander is the wife of Biden administration National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. She served as a deputy assistant attorney general at the Justice Department. She comes from a prominent New Hampshire family with a Republican background.
Her great-grandfather immigrated to the United States from the village of Avdella, Grevena, at the age of 16, without even knowing the language. He got a job in a dishwasher and when he earned enough money he moved to New Hampshire. Her grandfather Sam Tambozzi, a real estate developer, was a major Republican operative. Her mother, Betty Tambozzi, served as assistant secretary of state under President George W. Bush Sr.
A law graduate of Yale University, she worked as an adviser to Senators Joe Lieberman and John McCain. He served as counsel to the House Judiciary Committee during the first impeachment of Donald Trump, where he authored a 55-page report outlining the constitutional grounds for the former president’s impeachment. He taught Constitutional Law at the University of New Hampshire and Dartmouth College.
Beginning in mid-2021 and for three years, he led, as Biden’s White House counsel, the Unity Agenda, focused on addressing pressing challenges facing America: the opioid crisis, mental health, and meeting obligations to veterans. He stated that he wants to play a role in deepening the U.S.-Greece relationship. “Congress provides many tools to strengthen it, whether through bilateral defense cooperation, diplomatic efforts, or cooperation in multilateral organizations like NATO. Strengthening this bond is one of my top priorities,” he said.
Demi Kuzuna: The only one for the Senate
Fighting to exhaust her own chances of election for the seat of Maine’s second state senator is expatriate Demmi Kuzuna. She has narrowed her handicap considerably from independent Angus King, who has been consistently elected since 2012, to 6-7 points.
In announcing her candidacy, she appeared more moderate than her earlier statements regarding the 2020 election, calling for the full truth to be revealed about what happened then. She even has the tacit support of moderate Republican Senator Susan Collins, who is seen as one of the staffers with bipartisan logic, far from extreme policy proposals.
Born in Sacco, Maine, she proudly says she is one of four children of a family of Greek immigrant workers. At the family restaurant, Venetia’s, in Old Orchard Beach, she worked summers washing dishes, waiting tables, helping in the kitchen, and learning the value of hard work. A graduate of the University of Maine and with a doctorate in dentistry from Tufts University, she served in the U.S. Army in Germany with her husband Joe, with whom she has two children. Returning to the U.S., they opened two dental offices in Skogegan and Scarborough, as well as a small mercantile store.
With strong community involvement, he co-founded Dentists Who Care for Maine and facilitated the launch of Bright Smiles, a children’s dental program. He teaches at the University of New England School of Dentistry.
