The expatriate federal representatives, together with their philhellenic colleagues, have proven throughout time to be key allies in the promotion of Greek issues
Response from USA, Christodoulos Athanasatos
NEW YORK: With at least two new faces, their presence may be strengthened of Greek-American representatives in the new Federal Parliament, if polls and estimates are confirmed ahead of the November 5 election.
Expatriate federal representatives, along with their philhellenic colleagues supported by Greek-American organizations, have historically proven to be key allies in the promotion of Greek national issues, resulting in the support of active Greek-American donors, regardless of party affiliation.
The next two years are expected to be critical in many areas and, no doubt, the Greek lobby is not very happy about the departure of MP John Sarbanis – son of the late legendary Senator Paul Sarbanis – who decided to end his parliamentary presence for personal reasons. Despite this, the quartet of current MPs have excellent chances of being re-elected, while everything shows that Greece will be able to invest in the action of new allies.
In New York’s 1st District, the former CNN analyst, John Avlon, is running with the Democrats and is running for the seat from the current Republican Party Rep. Nick LaLotta. Although his name may not testify to it, Avlon is a Greek-American originally from Corfu and Samos and has already addressed the expatriates of the District, which is based in “deep” Long Island and presents difficulties for the Democratic Party.
In New York’s 11th District, Republican U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotaki she has all the makings on her side to win a third term, as her electoral map includes overwhelmingly pro-Republican Staten Island and Brooklyn boroughs where the balance of power is far from the more progressive profile of the rest of the district.
In New Hampshire’s 1st District, Democratic Rep Chris Pappas has successfully managed to balance on a tightrope, as it appeals to a particularly moderate electorate which, until a few years ago, did not give a second consecutive term to a Member of Parliament of the same party. With major initiatives and interventions both in favor of Greece and against Erdogan’s Turkey, Pappas is considered a very strong “paper” on Greek issues in Congress and is currently ahead in the polls of his Republican opponent, Russell Prescott. with his staff he is optimistic that the battle of November 5 will be victorious.
In the 2nd District of New Hampshire, known in Washington circles but unknown to the general Greek-American public, Maggie Goodlanderfrom the Democratic Party, comes down with increased chances of election, in order to fill the position left by the also Democrat Anne Custer. In a recent interview with the newspaper “Kathimerini”, Gudlander – who is the wife of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan – revealed that she is descended from Avdella Grevenon and wants to contribute to the development of Greek-American relations.
At the same time, in the 8th District of Florida “taken” by the powerful hurricanes and with the support of Donald Trump, the once rising star of the Republicans in the State, Mike Haridopouloshas the image of the most likely winner and is preparing for his first two years in Congress. According to local reports, Haridopoulos is the son of a Greek immigrant, who served as an FBI agent, while he himself had traveled, among other things, to Athens, as a representative of the state delegation, for the 2004 Olympic Games. According to current estimates , will probably be another ally for Greece.
In the 12th District of the same State, the experienced Member of Parliament Konstantinos Bilirakis he will have no problem being re-elected for another two years, continuing the tradition started by his father, Michalis Bilirakis and continued by himself. Recently, Mr. Bilirakis co-signed a letter to the Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, requesting his intervention on Turkey’s inflammatory rhetoric against Israel and its embrace of Russia and authoritarian regimes.
Finally, in Nevada’s 1st District, Rep Dina Titus is seeking another two-year term in a generally lopsided election cycle for the state, but she, on her own electoral map, appears to have a lead over Republican Mark Robertson, who, however, has emerged as a threat to her in 2022.
Agents in every corner of America
Less prominent abroad – due to the non-direct influence on the international factor – but particularly important for the formation of the legal framework and ultimately the daily life at the local level – are the elections for the state delegations.
In particular, to be understood, according to the same correspondence of the three poles of power of the Federal State, which includes the President, the House and the Senate, the governance of the State is constituted by the Governor, the State House and the State Senate. At the same time, a large number of representatives who currently hold powerful positions in Congress have done their “farming” in state institutions, such as Nicole Malliotaki.
From New York and the Greek-occupied Astoria to the “deep America” of Wyoming and distant Alaska, there are expatriates elected to the State House and State Senate, the renewal of the mandate of most of whom will be decided on November 5.
Of these, the highest ranking State Representative is the one from Kalavryta, Michalis Giannaristhe son of Greek immigrants, raised in the Greek neighborhoods of Astoria and a fluent speaker of the Greek language. Giannaris is the deputy head of the State Senate, with considerable power in the organs of Albany, having even been targeted, in 2018, as the man who… forced the powerful Jeff Bezos to withdraw Amazon’s dizzying investment proposal in the Long Island City of Western Queens, balking at the prospect of being given “land and water” with benefits deemed unsatisfactory.
Also elected to the New York State Senate are Andreas Gounardis (Democrat) and James Skoufis (Democrat).
On the other side, in the State Parliament, the one of Cypriot origin Michalis Tannoussis – president of the Republican Party in Staten Island – is re-elected unopposed in the corresponding district that Mrs. Malliotaki represents in Congress, while in a more distant area of New York State, also Republican John Lemondis is running for re-election.
As for the rest of the States, candidates for re-election will be Leonidas Raptakis (Rhode Island), Christopher Matos (Vermont), Bruce Tarr, Ioannis Velis and Stephen Xiarchos (Massachusetts), Benjamin Barudi (New Hampshire), Leonidas Stavrinakis (South Carolina). , John Spiros (Wyoming), Steven Malagari (Pennsylvania), Chuck Eustration and Mike Heokas (Georgia).
Source :Skai
With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
