Eleni Kounalakis

Kounalakis earned a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth in 1989 and an M.B.A from the University of California, Berkeley in 1992. Her career experience includes working as real estate developer.[1] She has been affiliated with the World Council of Religions for Peace.[2]

California Treasurer

Eleni Kounalakis has not yet completed [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Send a message to Eleni Kounalakis asking her to fill out the survey.

If you are Eleni Kounalakis, click here to fill out [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Who fills out the candidate survey?

Any candidate running for elected office, at any level, can complete [the profile publisher]'s Candidate Survey. Completing the survey will update the candidate's [the profile publisher] profile, letting voters know who they are and what they stand for.  More than 32,000 candidates have taken [the profile publisher]'s candidate survey since we launched it in 2015. Learn more about the survey here.

You can ask Eleni Kounalakis to fill out this survey by using the buttons below or emailing info@eleniforca.com.

Governor of California

Eleni Kounalakis did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Eleni Kounalakis did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

.survey-result {padding:10px;}

p.survey-question {font-weight:bold;}

p.survey-response {margin-left:10px;}

p.survey-response {white-space: pre-line;}

div.survey-scrollbox { height:400px; overflow:scroll; margin:20px; padding:10px; border:1px solid gray; }

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

Economy:

As the chair of the Commission for Economic Development, I will advance policies that ensure our state's economy works for everyone, fight to build more affordable homes, ensure equal pay for women, and prepare California's economy for the 21st Century. We need to create more good-paying jobs while also protecting our environment.

Higher Education:

The cost of higher education is out of control. I have pledged to oppose all tuition increases for California students attending the UC and CSUs. I paid $2K per year in tuition for my MBA at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business. Now, the same program costs over $60K per year. I will fight to make higher education affordable and to build more affordable student housing.

Environment:

As Lt. Governor, I will serve on the State Lands Commission. I will use my skills as a diplomat, and my experience working on the policies that led to the Paris Climate Accord as U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, to protect the environment and ensure California is a global leader in the effort to fight climate change. I'll fight to protect our coasts and stop the Trump administration from expanding offshore oil drilling.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am the only woman in this race, and if elected, I'll bring down a high, hard glass ceiling as the first woman elected Lt. Governor of California. If we make history in this way, there is no greater cause for me to take on than to fight for gender parity in leadership and increase security for women. This includes protecting women from sexual harassment and ensuring equal pay and economic security.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My very first paid job was working as a staffer at the California Democratic Party in 1992, helping elect two women to the U.S. Senate and turning California blue. Since then, I have been an activist promoting good government and a supporter of qualified Democratic candidates for elected office.