Greek-American candidates secured at least six congressional victories in Tuesday’s U.S. midterm elections, led by Democrat Chris Pappas’ win in New Hampshire’s Senate race and the reelection of five House members in New Hampshire, Florida and New York.
The results include wins for Democrats and Republicans, alongside defeats for former Sen. John E. Sununu and independent House candidate Aristotle Eliopoulos. Greek Reporter had not verified an outcome in Democratic Rep. Dina Titus’ Nevada race at the time of this update.
Chris Pappas moves from the House to the Senate
Pappas defeated Republican John E. Sununu to win the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Democrat Jeanne Shaheen. The victory keeps the seat in Democratic hands and moves Pappas to the upper chamber after four terms representing New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District. He will also become the first openly gay man to serve in the U.S. Senate.
Pappas grew up in Manchester, where his family operates the Puritan Backroom restaurant. In the House, he has served as co-chair of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus and worked on legislation involving Greece, Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Florida returns three Greek-American Republicans to Congress
Florida reelected all three of its Greek-American House members: Gus Bilirakis, Mike Haridopolos and Jimmy Patronis.
Bilirakis won an 11th term in the 12th Congressional District, defeating Democrat Kimberly Overman. He has served in the House since January 2007, succeeding his father, former Rep. Michael Bilirakis, and has been a prominent congressional advocate on Greek and Cypriot issues.
Haridopolos secured a second term in the 8th District against Democrat Jennifer Jenkins. The former Florida Senate president first won his congressional seat in 2024 and represents a district anchored by the Space Coast.
Patronis defeated Democrat Gay Valimont in the 1st District to win his first full House term. The former Florida chief financial officer entered Congress after a special election in April 2025.
Their victories preserve Florida’s three-member Greek-American presence in the House, with the lawmakers representing different parts of the state.
Nicole Malliotakis wins a fourth term in New York
Republican Nicole Malliotakis won reelection in New York’s 11th Congressional District, defeating Democrat Mike DeCillis. The district covers Staten Island and part of southern Brooklyn. The daughter of a Greek immigrant father and a Cuban mother, Malliotakis first won election to Congress in 2020 and previously served in the New York State Assembly.
Maggie Goodlander reelected in New Hampshire
Democratic Rep. Maggie Goodlander won a second term in New Hampshire’s 2nd Congressional District, defeating Republican Lily Tang Williams in a rematch of their 2024 contest.
“And whether you voted for me or not, I will work for you,” Goodlander told supporters in Concord, according to NHPR.
Goodlander has spoken publicly about her family’s roots in Avdella, a village in the Pindus Mountains of northern Greece and the importance of her Greek heritage and her family’s connection to Nashua.
Dina Titus: Nevada result still pending
Democrat Dina Titus won reelection in Nevada’s 1st Congressional District, defeating Republican Carrie Buck, according to Decision Desk HQ. The Greek-American lawmaker has represented the Las Vegas-area district since 2013 and serves as vice chair of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus. Her victory brings the number of Greek-American congressional winners in this roundup to seven
Sununu and Eliopoulos lose congressional bids
Sununu’s defeat by Pappas ended his attempt to return to the Senate, where he served from 2003 to 2009. Like his Democratic opponent, Sununu has Greek ancestry, through his father’s family.
In New Jersey’s 8th Congressional District, independent Aristotle Eliopoulos lost to incumbent Democrat Rob Menendez, whom NBC News projected as the winner. Eliopoulos, a Jersey City teacher and union representative, described his Greek heritage and Pontian roots in a candidate questionnaire published by NJ Spotlight News.
