Eight candidates with Greek roots are running for Congress – More than 50 Greeks are participating in the elections in 20 states
Greek News & Radio FL | November 3, 2026
Today, Tuesday, November 3, 2026, the United States goes to the polls for the midterm elections, in a showdown that will determine the composition of Congress and the political alignments for the second half of Donald Trump's presidential term.
Among the hundreds of candidates vying for the votes of American citizens, the presence of politicians of Greek origin stands out.
More than 50 Greek-American candidates, in about 20 states, are participating in the electoral process, running for seats in Congress, state legislatures, state governments, and other public offices.
This is a presence that captures the long history of Greek immigration to the United States: from the first immigrant families, who worked hard to create a better life, to the younger generations who actively participate in shaping American politics.
The Greek presence in Congress
In today's elections, eight politicians with Greek roots are running for seats in the federal Congress.
Five belong to the Republican Party and three to the Democratic Party.
Two are candidates for the Federal Senate and six are seeking re-election to the House of Representatives.
Their presence extends from Florida and New York to New Hampshire and Nevada.
New Hampshire: Two candidates with Greek roots vying for the same seat
A special showdown is unfolding in New Hampshire.
Ο Chris Pappas, a Democratic candidate, is running for a seat in the United States Senate.
Representative of New Hampshire's first congressional district since 2019, Pappas comes from a family of Greek immigrants with roots in Thessaly.
His family history is linked to the well-known Puritan Backroom restaurant, founded in 1917 in Manchester.
Pappas has developed parliamentary activity on issues concerning US-Greece relations, Cyprus, and security in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Opposite him is the John E. Sununu, Republican candidate and former senator, who served from 2003 to 2009.
Sununou comes from a family of Lebanese, Greek, and Latin American descent. His Greek ancestry comes from his father, John H. Sununou, former governor of New Hampshire and White House chief of staff under President George H. W. Bush.
The contest is of particular interest to the Greek diaspora, as both main candidates have Greek family roots.
The last Greek-American woman to serve in the Senate was Olympia Snow, who represented the state of Maine until January 2013.
Florida: Three Greek-Americans are running for re-election
Florida has a particularly significant Greek-American presence in the House of Representatives, with three sitting members of parliament of Greek descent.
Gus Bilirakis – Republican, 12th District
Gus Bilirakis is one of the longest-serving members of Greek descent in the US Congress.
He has been elected since 2006 and has served since January 2007, continuing the political tradition of his father, Michael Bilirakis, who had also served as an MP.
With family origins from Kalymnos, he maintains close ties with the Greek community.
He has played an active role in promoting issues concerning Greece and Cyprus and is co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Hellenic Caucus.
Mike Haridopolos – Republican, 8th District
Mike Charidopoulos represents Florida's 8th district, on the eastern side of the state.
The son of a Greek immigrant, he has many years of political experience.
Before being elected to the federal Congress in 2024, he had served in the Florida state legislature, rising to the presidency of the state Senate.
Jimmy Patronis – Republican, 1st District
Jimmy Patronis represents Florida's 1st congressional district, in the northwestern part of the state.
Before being elected to Congress in 2025, he had served as Florida's Chief Financial Officer, one of the state's most important financial positions.
He comes from a family of Greek origin with a long history of business activity in the catering industry.
His family is connected to the well-known restaurant Captain Anderson's in Panama City Beach.
New York: Nicole Malliotaki
Η Nicole Malliotakis, Republican congresswoman from New York's 11th district, is running for re-election.
Her constituency includes Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn.
With a father of Greek descent from Crete and a mother from Cuba, Malliotaki is a typical example of the multicultural identity of the United States.
He has been active in Congress on issues concerning Greece, Cyprus and Greek-American relations.
Nevada: Dina Titus
Η Dina Titus, a Democratic congresswoman from Nevada's 1st congressional district, is also running for re-election.
With a long presence in American politics and deep family roots in Greece, Titus has maintained an active interest in the Greek diaspora.
Her grandfather, Arthur Konstantinos Kathones, immigrated to the United States from Trikala in 1911.
Her family tradition holds special significance for her. It is noteworthy that during her swearing-in to Congress, she used her grandfather's Greek Bible.
New Hampshire: Maggie Goodlander
Η Maggie Goodlander, Democratic congresswoman from New Hampshire's 2nd district, is seeking re-election.
He was first elected in 2024, having previously worked in important positions in the federal government and the Department of Justice.
Her family origins are linked to Avdella, Grevena, a mountainous village in Pindos.
Her husband, Jake Sullivan, had served as National Security Advisor to former President Joe Biden.
The Greek diaspora is not limited to Congress.
The Greek presence in elections also extends to important state positions.
In California, the Eleni Kounalakis, a Democrat and current lieutenant governor of the state, is running for the position of State Treasurer.
In Illinois, the Alexi Giannoulias, also a Democrat, is running for re-election to the office of Secretary of State.
In Nevada, the Stavros Anthony, a Republican of Greek Cypriot origin, is running for a second term as lieutenant governor.
In Connecticut, the Susan Bysiewicz is running for re-election as lieutenant governor, while in Massachusetts the Diana DiZoglio is running for a new term as state auditor.
At the same time, dozens of other candidates of Greek origin are participating in elections for state parliaments and other local offices.
What does the presence of Greek Americans mean for Greece and Cyprus?
The political participation of Greek Americans takes on particular importance when it is linked to issues of mutual interest to the United States, Greece, and the Republic of Cyprus.
The Congressional Hellenic Caucus operates in the US Congress, a bipartisan parliamentary group that deals with strengthening US-Greece relations.
Issues that have concerned its members include security in the Eastern Mediterranean, Greek-American defense relations, the Cyprus issue, and developments in US-Turkey relations.
However, the Greek origin of a politician does not automatically mean that his positions are aligned with the aspirations of Greece or Cyprus.
Greek American politicians represent the American citizens of their constituencies, belong to different parties and express different political views.
The substantive evaluation of their presence results from their legislative initiatives, public statements and decisions.
From Greek immigration to decision-making centers
Behind many of the names on American ballots today are family stories that began decades ago.
Stories of people who left Greece in search of work, security and better living conditions.
People who created businesses, raised families, invested in their children's education, and became part of American society.
Today, descendants of these families are running for or holding positions in Washington and state centers of power.
Their political paths are different. What remains in common is a part of their family history that is connected to Hellenism.
The elections of November 3, 2026, therefore, also constitute an opportunity to record the political presence of the Greek diaspora in the United States.
Beyond election results and partisan differences, this participation highlights the path of the diaspora from the first immigrant communities to modern American public life.
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