Greek-American Republican Nicole Malliotakis has won re-election to the US House of Representatives, retaining her seat in New York's 11th Congressional District following the 2026 midterm elections.
Malliotakis defeated Democratic challenger Michael DeCillis, continuing her representation of a district that includes Staten Island and parts of southern Brooklyn.
Daughter of a Cretan immigrant
The 45-year-old lawmaker is of Greek and Cuban heritage. Her father emigrated from Crete, Greece, while her mother is of Cuban origin.
Before her election to Congress in 2020, Malliotakis served in the New York State Assembly and was the Republican nominee for mayor of New York City in 2017.
Strong ties to the Greek-American community
Malliotakis has maintained close links with the Greek-American community and has repeatedly spoken out on issues involving Greece, Cyprus and Greek-Turkish relations.
Her re-election comes as Democrats regained control of both the House and Senate in the midterm elections, while Republicans sought to limit losses across key congressional races.
Positions on Cyprus
The congresswoman's victory is of particular interest to Cyprus because of her longstanding support for Cypriot positions in Washington.
As vice-chair of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus, Malliotakis has:
- Supported the permanent lifting of the US arms embargo on the Republic of Cyprus.
- Opposed the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey.
- Backed stronger US-Cyprus defence cooperation.
- Criticised reported Turkish military activities in the occupied areas of Cyprus.
In March 2026, she also called on congressional leaders to advance legislation aimed at strengthening security cooperation between the United States and Cyprus.
Her continued presence in Congress ensures that one of the most vocal Greek-American advocates of Cyprus-related issues remains in the House of Representatives.
