ATHENS – The crucial 2022 mid-term elections in the United States of America on November 8 resulted in important victories for five members of Congress, five General Officers, 11 State Senators and 17 State Representatives elected in 18 states across the country. On the national level, re-elected in the Unites States Congress House of Representatives were Gus Bilirakis (R-Florida), John Sarbanes (D-Maryland), Nicole Malliotakis (R-New York), Dina Titus (D-Nevada), and Chris Pappas (D-New Hampshire).

The presence of Greek-American officials on the state level is also significant with Eleni Kounalakis (D-California) and Susan Bysiewicz (D-Connecticut) as Lieutenant Governors of their respective states. Former State Senator Diana DiZoglio (D- Massachusetts), won the State Auditor office and Former State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (D-Illinois) was elected as Secretary of State, while Maria Pappas has been re-elected as Cook County Treasurer also in Illinois.

On the State legislative level, 11 State Senators and 17 State Representatives have been elected, which included State Representatives in Connecticut Eleni Kavros DeGraw and Christopher Poulos, both Democrats, Nicole Klarides-Ditria (R-Connecticut), State Senator Spiros Mantzavinos (D- Delaware), State Representatives Chuck Efstration and Mike Cheokas (R-Georgia), State Senator John Velis and State Representatives Denise Garlick and Josh Cutler (D-Massachusetts), Senator Bruce Tarr and State Representatives Steven Xiarhos (R-Massachusetts), State Senator Sandra Pappas (D-Minnesota), State Senators Michael Giannaris, Andrew Gounardes and James Skoufis (D-New York), State Representatives Michael Tannousis and John Lemondes (R-New York), State Senator James Ohrenschall (D-Nevada), State Representatives Efstathia Booras, Benjamin Baroody and Tony Lekas (D-New Hampshire), State Senator Maria Tzanakis-Collett and State Representative Steve Malagari (D-Pennsylvania), State Senator Leonidas Raptakis (D-Rhode Island), State Representative Leonidas Stavrinakis (D-South Carolina), State Representative John Spiros (R-Wisconsin), State Representative Christopher Mattos (R-Vermont) and State Senator Stephan Pappas (R-Wyoming).

All of the elected candidates look forward to continue to have the opportunity to be a strong voice on issues of concern in the Greek-American community and also working closely with their respective other colleagues in government to strengthen the relationship between Greece and the United States.

“We have a strong network of Hellenic-American elected officials across the United States and want to make sure we are being heard in Washington, DC and in state capitals across the country”, emphasized Rhode Island State Senator Leonidas Raptakis, President of the World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association (PADEE-WHIA).

In other election results, Congressional candidate Alek Skarlatos failed to get elected in the state of Oregon. Former Republican Governor and Democratic Congressman Charlie Christ challenged Governor Ron DeSantis in Florida but came up short. Alaska State Representative Harriet Anagnostis Drummond also lost her bid for re-election. Former State Representative Lynn Afendoulis (R-Michigan) failed in her run for election in a new district. Seven current State Representatives and State Senators did not seek re-election for office and their terms will expire in January 2023. The Greek-American elected members are also associated with PADEE-WHIA, an organization that consists of current and former elected legislators and officials of Greek descent in non-Greek speaking countries.