Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis Endorses Dave Min
IRVINE, CA — Today, California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis endorsed Dave Min in his campaign for California’s 47th Congressional District, citing his strong record of support for women and girls. Min, who is endorsed by Congressional leaders Katie Porter, Judy Chu, and Grace Meng, California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, over 25 members of the CA Legislative Women’s Caucus, over 50 in-district locally elected leaders, and SEIU California, received a 100% Legislative Scorecard from Planned Parenthood Action.
“Since being elected to the legislature, Dave has been a strong and outspoken ally for women and girls,” said Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis. “Dave has a record of passing critical legislation protecting reproductive freedom, ending the cycle of domestic abuse, and expanding health care coverage. I am thrilled to endorse him for Congress and excited to continue our partnership building a more equitable, just, and opportunity-filled state for all Californians.”
Eleni Kounalakis was elected Lt. Governor of California in 2018 as the first woman to be elected to the position. During her first term in office, she served as a fierce advocate on behalf of California’s public university students, fought against offshore drilling on California’s coast, made strides to expand gender equality and LGBTQ+ rights, and represented California’s interests on the global stage. A native Californian, successful businesswoman, and proud mom of two boys, Eleni has never stopped fighting for a brighter future for California.
In the State Senate, Min has proven himself an incredibly effective legislative leader, authoring 16 bills signed into law by the Governor, including leading legislation on family safety and women’s reproductive rights. When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in the summer of 2022, Senator Min co-sponsored Senate Constitutional Amendment 10, which now protects reproductive freedom for all Californians. In addition to protecting a woman’s right to choose statewide, Senator Min was also a leading voice for bringing an end to the Providence and Hoag affiliation among local hospitals. The merger had not only interfered with access to basic health care, but also led to discriminatory practices against LGBTQ+ patients and reproductive services on the basis of religious beliefs.
Dave is married to UC Irvine School of Law Professor Jane Stoever who runs the law school’s Domestic Violence Clinic and serves as Director of the UC Irvine Initiative to End Family Violence. Professor Stoever is one of the country’s leading experts in this area, and has testified multiple times before the California State Legislature and met with President Joe Biden and dozens of Congressional leaders on behalf of women and children’s safety issues. Dave and Jane live and are raising their three young children in Irvine, which is in the heart of the 47th Congressional District.
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California’s 47th is an open Congressional District in Orange County that includes the Cities of Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Newport Beach, and Seal Beach, and portions of Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, and Laguna Woods. Incumbent Katie Porter is vacating the seat to run for U.S. Senate. In 2022, Porter defeated former Assemblymember Republican Scott Baugh by 3.44% in this “toss-up” district. State Senator Dave Min currently represents over 80% of Congressional District 47 in Sacramento. In 2020, Min received over 158,000 votes within CA-47, defeating incumbent John Moorlach by 5.15%. 19% of the registered voters in CA-47 are of Asian and Pacific Islander descent, including one of the largest Korean-American populations in the country.
