California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis Shifts Focus to State Treasurer Position Amid Gubernatorial Race

California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis Shifts Focus to State Treasurer Position Amid Gubernatorial Race

California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis has decided to withdraw from the gubernatorial race after more than two years and is now running for state treasurer. She believes that focusing on California's financial future will allow her to make the greatest impact.

Kounalakis' campaign was contacted by Fox News Digital for comment on her decision to shift her focus to the state treasurer position.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris recently announced that she had considered running for governor but ultimately decided against it for the upcoming election. With current Governor Gavin Newsom unable to run for a third term due to term limits, the 2026 gubernatorial race is wide open.

The California state constitution prohibits governors from serving more than two terms, and Newsom, who has been in office since 2019, successfully defended his position in a recall election in 2021 and won re-election in 2022.

Several Democratic candidates are vying to succeed Newsom, including former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, former Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, and others. The race for California governor is expected to be highly competitive.