In Congress in the next two years, the presence of Greek-American expatriates will be strengthened in the next two years, following yesterday’s election to renew all 435 House seats of the House of Representatives and one-third of those of the Senate (33). Something very important for the national interests that our expatriate representatives in Congress consistently defend and promote. This despite the announced absence from the next House of John Sarbanes, who after 18 years of continuously representing Maryland did not run for office this year.

In the new Congress, the expatriate community will be represented in the next two years by six members of Congress, up from five previously. Four of them were re-elected in their constituencies.

Who is elected

In the 12th District of Florida, a state where the Republican supermajority was almost universal, Gkas Bilirakis crushed his 27-year-old Democratic rival, Rock Abujaude, who garnered 28.9% with 124,730 votes (in 98% of the vote), with 71.1% and 306,160 votes. Bilirakis has been elected to Congress continuously since 2006

In New York’s 11th District, expatriate Republican Congresswoman, Nicole Malliotaki, was triumphantly re-elected by taking 164.908 votes, accounting for 64.7%, against her Democratic rival, Adria Morse, who garnered 87,640 votes (35.3%), with 85% of the ballots counted. This will be N. Malliotaki’s third consecutive term in the House.

In Nevada, moreover, Democrat Dina Titus despite Harris’s loss in the presidential ballot, and the state’s color change on the map, is overwhelmingly successful in getting re-elected, as in 86% of the ballots counted, she leads by 51.1% (149.515 votes) to 45.5% (133,171 votes) of her opponent, Republican Mark Robertson. It is the umpteenth time Titus has been elected to Congress since 2009.

In New Hampshire, however, there was a Greek triumph. Expatriate candidates were elected in both of the state’s districts. In the 1st District, first of all, Chris Pappas was re-elected for the fourth time, narrowly beating his Republican opponent, Russell Prescott. Pappas garnered 203,077 votes (54.4%), compared to 170,577 votes (45.6%) for Prescott.

In the 2nd District, Maggie Goodlander was elected for the first time, securing 53.3% (194,075) of the vote to 46.7% (170,833 votes) for her opponent, Lily Tang Williams.

Also elected as a congressman in Florida’s 8th District was expatriate Mike Haridopolos, who won a typically comfortable victory over his Democratic opponent, Sandy Kennedy, with 62.3% (280,067 votes) to 37.7% (169,821 votes).

Who failed to get elected?

In contrast, in New York’s 1st District, Democratic candidate (for the first time) John Avlon lost the seat battle to incumbent Assemblyman Nick LaLotta. Avlon received 44.3% (172,700 votes) to his Republican opponent’s 55.7% (217,461 votes).

Nor did Demi Kuznets, the only homegrown candidate for the Senate, make it either. In her first election, Republican Kuznets fought a tough battle for the second Senate seat from Maine but was defeated by independent, incumbent Senator Angus King. As of a short time ago, 59% of the vote had been counted, however, the result (34.1% to 57.1%) is considered irreversible.