Greek Americans do well in the US Midterm Elections

Eleni Kounalakis one of the winners, here celebrates after being sworn-in as California’s lieutenant governor in, 2019, a former ambassador to Hungary, is the first woman to be elected to that office. Photo:AAP/Rich Pedroncell)

 

Results of the US midterm elections are still rolling in, and with 500 seats in the House of Representatives and Senate it could take weeks to get final results. However up to six Greek Americans – four Democrats and two Republican held their seats.

Democrats, Gus Bilirakis, John Sarbanes, Eleni Kounalakis, and Chris Pappas, and Republicans Nicole Malliotakis, and Gus Bilirakis emerged unharmed from their polling battles.

They have all reaffirmed their commitments to support Greek national and state issue in Congress.

Things are still uncertain, for the long-time Republican from the 1st Congressional District of Nevada, Dina Titus. With 63 per cent of the vote counted last night, she was a slither in front of her Republican opponent, Mark Robertson, but votes are still being counted.

Republican Alek Skarlatos was defeated by Democrat Val Hoyle and according to Hellenic American media, as of 6.30am Wednesday Hoyle had 51 percent of the vote and Skarlatos 43 per cent the site noted on November 9.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist was defeated in Florida, as expected, by influential Republican incumbent Governor Ron DeSantis.

In the 12th Congressional District of Florida, Gus Bilirakis prevailed with a significant margin over Democrat Kimberly Walker. With 97 per cent of the votes counted, Bilirakis won more than 70 percent of them.

U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., talks with supporters during a campaign stop at the University of New Hampshire, Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, in Durham, N.H. Pappas faces Republican Karoline Leavitt in the general election. Photo: AAP via AP/Charles Krupa

In New York’s 11th Congressional District Republican Nicole Malliotakis was declared the winner with a massive 91 per cent of election precincts reporting. She trounced former Congressman Max Rose by 62-38 percent. In 2020, Malliotakis, in her first federal election, won by a small margin.

In Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District, with a margin of more than 10 percentage points John Sarbanes was re-elected for another term in Congress, defeating Yuripzy Morgan. And in New Hampshire’s 1st District, Chris Pappas, after a blustery campaign, emerged as the winner over his Republican Caroline Levit.

Pappas was one of the Democratic Party’s most vulnerable representatives but the victory has solidified his standing.

Americans that we know have been elected:

Chris Pappas

Democratic incumbent Rep. Chris Pappas was re-elected on Tuesday in New Hampshire’s first congressional district by downing Republican Karoline Leavitt.

Pappas, the first openly gay member of Congress from New Hampshire was triumphant in the midterms, the former New Hampshire state House of Representatives and on the New Hampshire Executive Council said that there “is so much more to do and I’ll always stay focused on solving problems the New Hampshire way.”

US President Barack Obama (C) appears with Illinois Governor Pat Quinn (L) and Democratic candidate for the US Senate Alexi Giannoulias (R) at an outdoor Democratic Party election rally near his home on the south side of Chicago, Illinois, USA 30 October 2010. Photo: AAP/Tannen Maury

Eleni Kounalakis

California Lieutenant Gov. Eleni Kounalakis has also been re-elected for another term, defeating Republican Angela Underwood Jacobs.

Kounalakis the first woman to sign a bill into state law in California, that stops evictions for people who have applied for rental assistance through California’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program

Kounalakis wrote on Twitter: “Tonight’s win is bittersweet without my biggest supporter, my mother. I will strive to always lead with the love, kindness and patriotism that she taught me.”

Gus Bilirakis

Incumbent Republican Gus Bilirakis retained his seat in the US House in Florida’s 12th congressional district, which represents Pasco and northern Pinellas counties.

Bilirakis defeated Democrat Kimberly Walker with a whopping 70 percent of the vote.

“I’d like to thank my constituents for giving me the privilege to continue serving as your voice in Washington. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved and look forward to the chance to build upon that success,” Bilirakis said on Twitter.

John Sarbanes

Democrat, John Sarbanes was re-elected to the state’s 3rd Congressional District, defeating Republican Yuripzy Morgan.

The district includes bits of Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Howard County, Montgomery County and Anne Arundel County.

Sarbanes has represented Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District since 2007. He is also the chair of the Democracy Reform Task Force.

Nicole Malliotakis

GOP Rep. Nicole Malliotakis defended her seat on Tuesday against Max Rose.

Malliotakis was expected to win re-election in New York’s 11th Congressional District, which encompasses Staten Island and a section of southern Brooklyn, and is the most conservative-leaning in the city.

“This is not my victory. It is truly the victory of the people,” Malliotakis said in a speech.

Alexi Giannoulias

Democrat Alexi Giannoulias will be Illinois’ next secretary of state after a run against Republican Dan Brady.

With 90 percent of precincts reporting, Giannoulias had 54 per cent of the vote, compared to Brady’s 44 per cent. This is the first time in 24 years that someone other Jesse White will be leading the office.

After his victory, Giannoulias wrote on Twitter: “Thank you Illinois for placing your trust in me. I won’t let you down!”

U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., speaks at the Republican Election Night party, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, in the Staten Island borough of New York. The lone Republican representative in New York City, Nicole Malliotakis, won her rematch with Democrat Max Rose in a district consisting of Staten Island and a slice of Brooklyn. Photo: AAP/Jason Paderon/Staten Island Advance