Eleni Kounalakis is an American politician, businesswoman, and diplomat serving since 2019 as the 50th lieutenant governor of California. A Democrat, she is the first woman elected to the office and was United States Ambassador to Hungary from 2010 to 2013.

The lieutenant governor of California is the second highest executive officer of the government of the U.S. state of California. The lieutenant governor is elected to serve a four-year term and can serve a maximum of two terms. In addition to largely ministerial roles, serving as acting governor in the absence of the governor of California and as President of the California State Senate, the lieutenant governor either sits on many of California's regulatory commissions and executive agencies.