Ambassador Eleni Kounalakis was sworn in as the 50th Lieutenant Governor of California by Governor Gavin Newsom on January 7th, 2019. She is the first woman elected Lt. Governor of California. A native Californian, she visited each of the state’s 58 counties during her historic campaign. In addition to her duties as Lt. Governor, Kounalakis is California’s Representative for International Affairs and Trade, appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom by executive order.
The Affordable Care Act is under assault, and many Californians risk losing their healthcare. Here in California, healthcare must be considered a human right. That’s why I support universal healthcare coverage.
A single-payer solution must be at the center of this debate. U.S. Senators Kamala Harris and Bernie Sanders proposed Medicare for All, and I support their proposal. However, if there is no federal level solution soon, California must be prepared to lead the way with its own plan for universal coverage.
I will do everything in my power to ensure Medi-Cal is protected and underserved communities can access the care they need. Medicaid was founded as a program to help those most in need. It’s how we ensure everyone has access to the care they need, which isn’t just a question of human rights, it’s an investment in our people and ultimately helps our state’s economy in the long-run. As Lt. Governor, I will never back down and will stand up to the Trump Administration to protect the rights of Californians.