The November 3 U.S. midterm elections are emerging as crucial for the course of the United States during the second half of Donald Trump’s presidential term, while also attracting significant interest from the Greek-American community and with regard to broader Greek national interests.

The elections will bring a sweeping renewal of Congress. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for election, as House members serve two-year terms, along with 35 of the Senate’s 100 seats, whose members serve six-year terms. Governors, lieutenant governors and other senior officials will also be elected in a number of strategically important states.

The result will shape the political landscape in which the United States will operate until the 2028 presidential election, with implications not only for the country itself but also for the wider world—and particularly for Greece, as geopolitical balances and political, economic and trade relations in the region and beyond could be indirectly affected.

Two candidacies by Greek-American community figures for local office are already considered particularly significant.

The first is that of Eleni Kounalakis, the current lieutenant governor of California, who is seeking to become the state’s State Treasurer. California’s economy is the fourth-largest in the world by GDP.

The second is Alexi Giannoulias, who, in addition to seeking re-election as Illinois Secretary of State, is also running for mayor of Chicago in the city’s February municipal election.

Against this backdrop, and given that Greek-American members of Congress—regardless of party affiliation, Republican or Democrat—are generally viewed as united in defending Greek national interests, particularly at critical moments, the efforts of the current seven Greek-American members of Congress to win re-election in their districts are considered highly important.

One of them, Chris Pappas, is running as a Democrat not for another House term but for a U.S. Senate seat from New Hampshire. If successful, he would become the first Greek-American senator in 14 years, following the completion of Republican Olympia Snowe’s third consecutive term representing Maine.

The other six will run again for the House.

In Florida, three Republicans are seeking re-election: Jimmy Patronis in the 1st District, Mike Haridopolos in the 8th District and Gus Bilirakis in the 12th District. Meanwhile, George Moraitis lost the Republican nomination in the 25th District by just 1,514 votes.

Republican Nicole Malliotakis is also seeking re-election in New York’s 11th Congressional District.

Among the Democrats, Dina Titus is seeking re-election in Nevada’s 1st District, while Maggie Goodlander is running again in New Hampshire’s 2nd District.

In addition, Stavros Anthony, a Republican, is seeking re-election as lieutenant governor of Nevada, while Democrat Susan Bysiewicz is seeking another term as lieutenant governor of Connecticut.

Democrat Diana DiZoglio is also seeking re-election as Massachusetts State Treasurer.

Another 40–45 or so Greek-American candidates are expected to compete for seats in state legislatures.

Why the midterms matter

In U.S. midterm elections, voters can send a message to the president calling for a change of course, potentially even overturning the balance of power in one or both chambers of Congress.

According to current polling, this year’s elections are likely to take place against a difficult backdrop for President Donald Trump. After his sweeping successes at virtually every level during the first months of his second term in the White House, Trump is now facing growing voter dissatisfaction.

Economic instability, high prices and the prolonged war against Iran have significantly damaged his approval ratings.

A recent poll by the Financial Times and Focaldata found that Democrats, despite facing serious problems of their own in terms of leadership and policy, had gained an advantage when it came to their economic platform—once a major strength of the Trump administration. For now, Republicans appear to retain an advantage primarily on immigration policy.

The economy and the cost of living, particularly fuel and other consumer prices as well as borrowing costs, have become the president’s “Achilles’ heel.”

Although nothing can be taken for granted, Democrats appear capable of winning a majority in the House. In the Senate, however, it will be much harder to overturn the Republicans’ current 53–47 majority.

A volatile geopolitical landscape

At the same time, the midterm elections will take place amid unprecedented geopolitical uncertainty.

Beyond the two active crises in the Middle East and Ukraine, relations between the United States and its NATO allies have been seriously strained, with their future increasingly uncertain.

Closer to Greece, after a period of relative calm, Turkey and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan have returned to a policy of provocations and tensions. The latest episode cited by the article is the controversial designation of two marine parks in the North Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean, as part of Turkey’s “Blue Homeland” doctrine—developments that could foreshadow another tense winter.

Although Greek-American relations are widely considered to be at their strongest point historically, Trump’s ambiguous moves regarding Turkey’s defense-related and other demands, as well as his warm reception of developments such as the establishment of an “Islamic NATO,” are causing concern in Athens and among the Greek-American community in the United States.

The mobilization of the Greek-American lobby in the United States—often working alongside the Israeli lobby—and its interventions in decision-making centers have repeatedly helped prevent developments that could have harmed Greek national interests.

There are numerous examples, driven by the influence of Greek-American senators, representatives and state-level officials, as well as business leaders, technocrats, academics and the Greek-American community more broadly.

All of this underscores the importance of strong support for Greek-American candidates in the upcoming elections.

Eleni Kounalakis: The “Lieutenant of the West Coast”

Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis is the undisputed favorite to become California’s State Treasurer. The daughter of renowned Greek-American real estate magnate Angelo Tsakopoulos, she is a successful businesswoman in her own right as well as a politician, having served as lieutenant governor for eight years and as a leading figure in the Democratic Party. In the June 2 primary election — a single primary open to both Democratic and Republican candidates — she defeated Republican Jennifer Hawks by 13 percentage points (36.69%–24.0%). Her lead is considered decisive, especially given that she can draw on the Democratic vote from the eliminated candidates Anna Caballero (16.40%) and Tony Vazquez (7.09%), while Hawks has only David Serpa (12.87%) as an ally. Sixty-year-old Eleni Kounalakis, the second child from Tsakopoulos’ first marriage to Elaine Demson, is known as the “Democrats’ lieutenant” on the West Coast.

[Image: Eleni Kounalakis in Sacramento in January 2019, celebrating immediately after being sworn in as lieutenant governor with her sons and her husband, Marco.]

She has gained access to the highest circles of the American political establishment, becoming a regular interlocutor and close friend of Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and particularly Kamala Harris and Nancy Pelosi. She is now ready for her next, even more prominent step: running for State Treasurer of California, which, as a self-governing administrative and economic entity, has a GDP of $4.1 trillion, ranking behind only the United States as a whole, China and Germany. California is home to leading advanced-technology and AI companies, centered around Silicon Valley, while also serving as a global commercial and energy hub and a flagship of both the American and international entertainment and sports industries.

The importance of the position Kounalakis is seeking is self-evident. As the state’s “treasurer,” she has responsibilities broadly comparable to those of a federal Treasury secretary. She controls the state’s finances, formulates and implements economic policy, and oversees billions of dollars in grants and loans, with specific powers and responsibilities independent of the governor. California’s economy, which accounts for 14% of U.S. GDP and operates with a $248.5 billion budget — roughly equivalent to Greece’s GDP — is at a critical juncture. For the first time, it is approaching recession, facing a complex combination of crises: “a housing shortage, rising unemployment, income inequality and inflation,” compounded by the negative impact of Trump administration policies, as Trump takes an adversarial stance toward Democratic state leaders. Washington’s tariffs are putting additional pressure on the West Coast’s busiest port, Los Angeles, as well as on industry and agriculture. At the same time, California has suffered enormous damage from the severe wildfires that have ravaged the state in recent years.

Kounalakis, however, is unequivocal: “California is not backing down; we are fighting back. As the next State Treasurer, I will stand alongside working families to resist Trump’s hateful agenda.”

Agenda and political career

The priorities of her economic platform include fiscal discipline and a major expansion of investment, with a focus on clean energy, infrastructure, housing and education. She says she remains committed to the “California Dream.” She is openly proud of her Greek heritage and frequently emphasizes it in public. In one social media post, for example, she praised the initiative of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the Greek government to restrict social-media access for children under 15. “I am proud to see Greece leading the way in protecting children under 15 from the harmful effects of social media,” she wrote.

Her personal wealth, which stems not from a share of her father’s inheritance but from her own professional success as longtime president of the major real estate company ATK Development, is substantial. But she is also a multifaceted and accomplished figure, with an impressive résumé. She graduated from Dartmouth College and holds a master’s degree in economics and business administration from the University of California, Berkeley.

She has also been heavily involved in philanthropy, founding and funding two university chairs in political studies at Georgetown University and Stanford University. At Stanford, the chair is the “Konstantinos Mitsotakis Chair in Greek Studies and Culture,” a fact that has contributed to her notably close relationship with the Greek prime minister and his wife.

Chris Pappas: The Senate is the goal

Chris Pappas’ bid for a U.S. Senate seat in New Hampshire, after four terms in the House of Representatives, is of significance to the entire Greek-American community. A victory would restore Greek-American representation at the highest level of the U.S. legislative branch after a 14-year absence.

[Image: Chris Pappas speaks with voters in Warner, New Hampshire.]

“I’m running for the Senate because our economy, our democracy and our way of life are at stake. New Hampshire deserves a senator who is deeply connected to the people, places and values of this state,” Pappas said when announcing his candidacy.

According to the Associated Press, he is initially the overwhelming favorite in the Democratic primary against David Jarvis, Karisma Manzoor, Maxwell Saal and John Weil. However, the November 3 general election represents a personal test for Trump, since New Hampshire is among the 10–12 key races that could determine control of the Senate.

Pappas’ Republican opponent will be former New Hampshire governor Chris Sununu. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “John Sununu has my Complete and Total Endorsement.” In an earlier University of New Hampshire poll, Pappas held a seven-point lead over Sununu (49%–42%). A significant lead, certainly, but not a secure one.

Pappas was the first New Hampshire congressman to publicly acknowledge that he is gay, and if elected to the Senate, he would become the first openly gay man to serve in that chamber. He lives in Manchester, where he was born, with his husband, Van. He comes from a family of Greek immigrants and studied political science at Harvard. The Pappas family owns the Puritan Backroom, a historic family restaurant and a Manchester institution.

According to local media, he is running as an advocate for the middle class, focusing on reducing the cost of living, supporting public education, and protecting Medicaid and Social Security.

At the same time, reflecting the unusual ideological and political civil war unfolding within the Democratic Party, Pappas is currently facing fierce criticism from figures on the party’s left wing, including Senator Bernie Sanders, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani, over the substantial financial support he has received from pro-Israel organizations.

According to a report by the New Hampshire Journal, citing Federal Election Commission (FEC) data, Pappas has received approximately $689,000 in direct and targeted contributions from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and affiliated organizations over the course of his federal political career.

Alexi Giannoulias: Obama’s Close Ally

Fifty-year-old Alexi Giannoulias has already enjoyed a highly successful political career in Illinois. He is the state’s Secretary of State and is seeking reelection as a Democrat on November 3, having cleared the primary hurdle “unopposed.” But he has already set his sights on a higher goal: the mayoralty of Chicago. On August 2, he officially launched his campaign from the offices of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, signaling strong support from the city’s major labor unions.

He repeatedly stressed that his goal is to unite rather than divide: “Chicagoans aren’t expecting perfection, but leadership that listens, works hard and loves this city as much as they do.”

[Image: Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias with his family during his swearing-in ceremony at the Bank of Springfield Center in Springfield.]

He also pledged to deliver a city administration focused on results: universal access to preschool education, an increase in the minimum wage, greater availability of affordable housing, and a fairer tax system that protects working families. Several members of the Chicago City Council, as well as union leaders, have backed him. As he begins his campaign, Giannoulias also has a significant financial advantage, with $21.7 million raised through donations from major labor unions.

Giannoulias was born in Chicago to Greek parents. His father, Alekos, came from Mazeyka in Kalavryta. He became a successful real estate broker, amassed substantial property holdings in Chicago, and founded Broadway Bank, which grew to seven branches. His mother, Anna Xirouchakis, is from Sfakia, Crete.

He studied economics at the University of Chicago and Boston University. He came to Greece to play professional basketball for Panionios during the 1998–99 season. He subsequently earned a law degree from Tulane University in New Orleans and returned to Chicago, where he became vice president of Broadway Bank.

He served as Illinois State Treasurer from 2006 to 2010. He was a close associate of Barack Obama and an adviser to his economic team. In 2010, he ran for the U.S. Senate, narrowly losing to Republican Mark Kirk. In 2014, he married Josephine Terlato, with whom he now has four daughters.

In 2022, he was elected Illinois Secretary of State. He also founded the AG Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance to people in need, sick children and disaster victims.

Other candidates in the Chicago mayoral race include state Comptroller Susana Mendoza, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley and Chicago Housing Authority Chairman Matthew Brewer, while incumbent Mayor Brandon Johnson has not yet made his intentions clear. Businessman Liam Stanton had also been considering a run, but after Giannoulias announced his campaign, he said he was withdrawing and would support him.

Speaking to Mary Ann Ahern of NBC Chicago, Giannoulias said that, as mayor, his priority would be to strengthen the city’s economic growth by encouraging businesses to return and make significant investments in Chicago. The election is scheduled for February 23, 2027, with a possible runoff in April.

The Three Women

Nicole Malliotakis: The Uncompromising One

Already serving three terms in the House of Representatives, 45-year-old Nicole Malliotakis represents New York’s 11th Congressional District, covering Staten Island and southern Brooklyn. She has repeatedly distinguished herself for her unwavering stance in defending Greek positions, particularly against Turkish actions. She will now defend her seat against Democrat Michael DeCillis.

Born in Manhattan, she is the daughter of immigrant parents: Greek-born George Malliotakis and Cuban-born Vera. She studied communications and public relations at Seton Hall University in New Jersey and earned a master’s degree in business administration from Wagner College on Staten Island.

[Image: 45-year-old Nicole Malliotakis.]

She was elected to the New York State Assembly in 2010 and was reelected four times. In the 2017 New York City mayoral election, she challenged incumbent Mayor Bill de Blasio. She moved to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2020.

She is vice chair of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus, the 80-member bipartisan group in Congress focused on issues concerning Greece and Cyprus. Last May, she played a leading role in advancing legislation in the House aimed at strengthening U.S.-Greek defense cooperation.

On August 14, Trump expressed his full support for her reelection in a post on Truth Social, praising her positions on the economy, energy, immigration, defense and the “America First” agenda. “Nicole Malliotakis has my Complete and Total Endorsement for her reelection. She will never let you down,” he wrote.

Dina Titus: Opposed to Turkish F-35 Sales

Seventy-six-year-old Democratic Representative Dina Titus, who has represented Nevada’s 1st Congressional District since 2013, has led congressional efforts opposing Trump administration policies regarding defense sales and aircraft development involving Turkey, including the F-35 and KAAN programs.

Born in Thomasville, Georgia, she is seeking reelection this year. She easily defeated her three Democratic primary challengers, winning 79% of the vote in the June 9 primary.

[Image: 76-year-old Democratic Representative Dina Titus of Nevada’s 1st Congressional District.]

Her Republican opponent is now Carrie Buck. Titus is a graduate of the University of Georgia and holds a doctorate from Florida State University. She taught American and government politics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, for 34 years.

She is the granddaughter of Greek immigrant Arthur Constantine Kathones, who emigrated to the United States in 1911 and settled on Ellis Island. When she took her first oath of office in Congress, she held her grandfather’s Greek Bible in her hand.

Titus first traveled to Greece in 1980, visiting relatives in Athens and Trikala. She is married to history professor Thomas Wright.

Margaret Vivian Goodlander: From the Pindus Mountains

Maggie Goodlander is fighting for reelection in New Hampshire’s 2nd Congressional District. Born in Nashua in 1986, she earned a degree in history from Yale University and a law degree from Yale Law School.

Her career has included serving as a foreign-policy adviser in the U.S. Senate, a Navy intelligence officer, a law clerk at the U.S. Supreme Court, a constitutional-law professor at the University of New Hampshire and Dartmouth, deputy assistant attorney general at the Justice Department, and a senior adviser at the White House. She is married to former Biden national security adviser Jake Sullivan.

[Image: Maggie Goodlander has roots in the village of Avdella.]

In the 2024 election, she narrowly defeated Republican candidate Lily Tang Williams, 52.9% to 47.1%. On September 8, she will face Pace Bosemin in the Democratic primary, entering the contest as the strong favorite. If she prevails, she will face one of Republicans Michael Collins, Dan Nicholson, Victor Orlando or Lily Tang Williams on November 3.

Her family settled in Nashua after emigrating from the village of Avdella, in the Pindus mountain range of northern Greece.

She says she is “deeply proud and deeply grateful for the Greek heritage that has shaped me and made me who I am. My Greek roots instilled in me a love of freedom and a kind of patriotism that is not easily translated — philotimo — a love of duty, honor and country.”

The Three “Red” Republicans of Florida

Three Greek-American Republican congressmen are seeking reelection in three separate districts in Florida. All three have strong prospects of winning. Two of them did not even have to go through a primary contest, as no one dared to challenge their dominance.

In the 12th District, Gus Bilirakis will face Kimberly Overman, a small-business owner, as the clear favorite. One of the Greek-American community’s most prominent political figures, with a family political tradition and frequent initiatives on Greek issues, and with close ties to President Trump, 63-year-old Bilirakis has served in Congress since 2007. He was born in Gainesville, Florida, to Greek parents: Michael Bilirakis, who hailed from Kalymnos and was a former congressman whom Gus succeeded, and Evelina Miaoulis. He studied political science at the University of Florida and law at Stetson University.

Gus Bilirakis

Mike Haridopolos was first elected to Congress from Florida’s 8th District in 2024, winning 62.24% against Democrat Sandy Kennedy’s 37.76%. His opponent this time will be Democrat Jennifer Jenkins. His father, Ernest Adam Haridopolos, was a Greek immigrant who served as an FBI agent. Haridopolos earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Stetson University and a master’s degree in history from the University of Arkansas. He went on to teach U.S. history and political science at Brevard Community College and at the University of Florida’s Bob Graham Center. He lives in Indian Harbour Beach with his wife, Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos, and their three children.

Mike Haridopolos

The third is 54-year-old Jimmy Patronis. He was elected to Congress from Florida’s 1st District in a special election in March 2025, succeeding Matt Gaetz, who resigned to become U.S. attorney general. Patronis defeated Democratic candidate Gay Valimont, a sports-medicine physician, by 56.9% to 42.3%. The two will face each other again this year. Patronis was born in Panama City, Florida, and studied political science at Florida State University. In 2015, he was appointed to the Florida Public Service Commission and became its chief financial officer in 2017.

Jimmy Patronis

His family has operated Captain Anderson’s, an iconic seafood restaurant in Panama City, since 1967. He and his wife, Katie, have two children. His father immigrated to the United States from Patmos. He later returned to Greece, where he died in 2020 at the age of 88.

Photos: REUTERS, Getty Images / Ideal Image