Eleni Kounalakis
Democratic
California Treasurer
AI wrote this from the sources listed below. A second AI checked each sentence against its source, and software checked the links and dates. A person didn’t review it, so every sentence links to its source for you to check. Updated Thursday, October 15, 2026.
Overview
Eleni Kounalakis is the Lieutenant Governor of California, having served since 2019.1 She previously worked for 18 years as president of AKT Development, a real estate firm, and served as U.S. Ambassador to Hungary under President Obama.1
She says she would expand affordable housing by pushing to expand the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program and better aligning it with tax-exempt bonds.2 She supports protecting public pensions through responsible investment strategies and opposes blanket divestment mandates, saying pension decisions should be guided by fiduciary responsibility.3 She plans to strengthen state-run savings programs like CalSavers, ScholarShare 529 and CalABLE.3 She has also said she would consider public banks to help low-paid workers avoid bank fees.4 When asked about divesting from fossil fuels, she has said her approach would be to focus on clean investments.5
Her campaign says that as a UC regent and CSU trustee, she approved the construction of over 60,000 beds on college campuses.6 She also regularly voted against proposed tuition increases.7 As a California lands commissioner, she advanced a state partnership with ports to build infrastructure for offshore wind and cosponsored legislation for a statewide offshore wind plan.8
Campaign money
- Reporting period
- July 1 to September 19, 2026
- Raised
- $78,701
- Cash on hand
- $2,049,283
| Source | Amount | Share of money raised |
|---|---|---|
| Small gifts (under $100) | $50 | Under 1% |
| Gifts from people ($100 or more) | $590 | 1% |
| PACs and other committees | $59,200 | 75% |
| Party committees | $9,061 | 12% |
| Businesses and other groups | $9,800 | 12% |
Large contributions reported since September 19, 2026: $130,675 in 24 gifts. See the large contribution reports.
Source: California Secretary of State filings for Eleni Kounalakis for Treasurer 2026
Endorsements
Sources
- About Eleni Kounalakis - Lieutenant Governor, California Lieutenant Governor's office. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- 2026 California treasurer candidates share ideas for financing affordable housing, Daily News. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- Eleni Kounalakis, California treasurer candidate, 2026 primary election questionnaire, Orange County Register. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- Your guide to the California state treasurer's race, Sacramento Bee. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- California state treasurer election voter guide, Los Angeles Times. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- Meet Eleni Kounalakis – Eleni Kounalakis for Treasurer, Eleni Kounalakis campaign. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- 2026 General Election: California Treasurer race explainer, KPBS. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- In the election for state treasurer, McClatchy endorses a Sacramento leader, Sacramento Bee. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- Endorsements – Eleni Kounalakis for Treasurer, Eleni Kounalakis for Treasurer 2026. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- The Examiner endorses Eleni Kounalakis for California state treasurer, San Francisco Examiner. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- 2026 General Election Endorsements & Ballot Measure Positions, August 2, 2026, California Democratic Party. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- S.F. Chronicle Endorsements for the 2026 California Election, San Francisco Chronicle. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- Endorsement: Elect Eleni Kounalakis California’s next treasurer, The Mercury News. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- Endorsement: Eleni Kounalakis for state treasurer, Los Angeles Daily News. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- Endorsement: Eleni Kounalakis for state treasurer, Orange County Register. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California Announces Full Slate of 2026 Statewide Constitutional Endorsements, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- CCAH Endorses Eleni Kounalakis for California State Treasurer, California Council for Affordable Housing. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- Who We're Endorsing in California's 2026 Election, California Environmental Voters. Viewed Thursday, October 15, 2026.
- 2026 Candidate Recommendations, California Teachers Association. Viewed Thursday, October 15, 2026.
- The Knock LA Progressive Voter Guide for the November 2026 General Election, Knock LA (Ground Game LA). Viewed Thursday, October 15, 2026.
- November 2026 LA Progressive Voter Guide, LA Forward Action Fund. Viewed Thursday, October 15, 2026.
- 2026 Midterm Election: LA County Federation of Labor Endorsements (Official Voter Guide), Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. Viewed Thursday, October 15, 2026.
- SEIU 721 COPE Slate, November 3, 2026 General Election, SEIU Local 721. Viewed Thursday, October 15, 2026.