{"id":2472384,"date":"2025-08-08T11:15:02","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T15:15:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-lt-gov-eleni-kounalakis-drops-bid-for-governor\/"},"modified":"2025-08-08T11:16:23","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T15:16:23","slug":"california-lt-gov-eleni-kounalakis-drops-bid-for-governor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-lt-gov-eleni-kounalakis-drops-bid-for-governor\/","title":{"rendered":"California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis drops bid for governor"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcalifornia-lt-gov-eleni-kounalakis-drops-bid-for-governor%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2472384&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis has announced that she is withdrawing from the race for governor and will instead run for state treasurer in the upcoming election.Although she was considered a leading candidate with notable endorsements, including from former House Speaker nancy Pelosi, polling showed her trailing behind other contenders. Kounalakis stated that her skills would be better suited to managing California&#8217;s financial investments as treasurer. She had already raised about $9 million for her gubernatorial campaign, which she can transfer to her new campaign. The governor&#8217;s seat is open due to term limits on current Governor Gavin Newsom. Other Democratic candidates for <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >governor include<\/a> katie Porter, Xavier Becerra, Antonio Villaraigosa, and Toni Atkins, while former vice President Kamala Harris has declined to run.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis drops bid for governor<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2191060\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis (D-CA) announced Friday that she is dropping out of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/California\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">California<\/a> governor&rsquo;s race to run for&nbsp;state treasurer next year.<\/p>\n<p>Kounalakis was considered a top contender in the race, with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/politics\/article\/pelosi-kounalakis-20795127.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">appearing<\/a> to endorse her. However, polling showed her behind other candidates. In a statement, Kounalakis argued her skills would be better used as treasurer, managing the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/no-spike-in-florida-coronavirus-cases-despite-no-mask-mandate\/\" title=\"No Spike in Florida Coronavirus Cases Despite No Mask Mandate\">state&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s&nbsp;investments.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3494512\/trump-peace-signing-ceremony-azerbaijan-armenia\/\">Trump to host &#8216;Peace Signing Ceremony&#8217; with Azerbaijan and Armenia<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3494368\/republican-party-fighting-back-midterm-elections-redistricting\/\">Republicans say party is finally fighting back, Democrats don&#8217;t like it<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3494504\/greg-abbott-threatens-new-map-8-more-seats-texas-democrats-return\/\">Abbott threatens expanding new map to give GOP eight more seats if Texas Democrats don&#8217;t return<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;This decision was not made lightly. Over the course of my campaign for governor, I have had the opportunity to engage with Californians across the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-death-of-the-administrative-state-is-just-beginning\/\" title=\"The Decline of the Administrative State is Just Starting\">state &#038;mdash<\/a>; listening to their concerns, hopes, and ideas for a stronger, more equitable future. I believe I can make the greatest impact by focusing on California&rsquo;s financial future,&rdquo; she said.<\/p>\n<p>Kounalakis had already raised around $9 million in her state campaign accounts in her bid for governor, but she can transfer the money to her campaign for treasurer.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/3177509\/what-maga-gop-will-look-like-post-donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>WHAT MAGA AND THE GOP WILL LOOK LIKE IN A POST-TRUMP ERA<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3486776\/with-harris-out-which-democrats-are-left-standing-for-california-governor-bid\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Democratic candidates for governor <\/a>include former Rep. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3343653\/katie-porter-launches-bid-for-california-governor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Katie Porter<\/a> (D-CA), former Health and Human Services Secretary and California Attorney General <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3367481\/xavier-becerra-enters-california-governor-race\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Xavier Becerra<\/a>, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and California Senate Pro Tempore Toni Atkins. Former Vice President Kamala Harris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3486639\/kamala-harris-not-run-california-governor-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">declined<\/a> to run amidst speculation she would.<\/p>\n<p>Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) is term-limited and cannot run for reelection.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2191060\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2191060\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis ends governor run, seeks treasurer post<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2910,"featured_media":2472385,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AP24026847988202-1.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[4045,60908,37411,60909,5894],"class_list":["post-2472384","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-california","tag-eleni-kounalakis","tag-governor-race","tag-lt-governor","tag-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AP24026847988202-1.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2472384","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2910"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2472384"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2472384\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2472388,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2472384\/revisions\/2472388"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2472385"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2472384"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2472384"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2472384"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}