Eleni Kounalakis kicks off early campaign for California governor in 2026.

Eleni Kounalakis, California's lieutenant governor, has announced her campaign for governor in the 2026 election, becoming the first woman to govern the state if elected. She plans to tackle key issues such as homelessness and the fentanyl crisis. Kounalakis has been acting governor several times and became the first woman to sign a bill into law last year in California, extending a law preventing some renters from being evicted during the pandemic. More challengers are expected as the election nears.