Politics

Chinese-Born Republican Candidate Takes Another Swing At Winning Key House Seat

Lily Tang Williams speaking at the 2016 FreedomFest at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, Nevada. Gage Skidmore/Flickr

American political activist and entrepreneur Lily Tang Williams, who immigrated to the U.S. from China, said Wednesday that she intends to make another bid as a Republican candidate for New Hampshire’s 2nd Congressional District seat in 2026.

Williams announced her candidacy in a post on X, stating that she is “ready to fight for the people in 2026.” Notably, Williams lost the Republican primary for New Hampshire’s 2nd Congressional District seat in 2022, and later won the GOP nomination in 2024, but lost the general election to Democratic New Hampshire Rep. Maggie Goodlander, who secured 53% of the vote to Williams’ 47%.

“I am living the American dream,” Williams wrote in the social media post. “I have experienced firsthand the transformative power of freedom, opportunity, and hard work, which is why I am an ideal congressional candidate for the people of the 2nd district.”

“I want to be at the forefront of a movement to help bring forth a new renaissance to the country I love and serve with integrity, honesty and transparency,” Williams stated in the social media post. “It will be an honor of a lifetime to represent the people in New Hampshire’s 2nd District which has welcomed me with open arms.”

Williams was born to “poor working-class parents” in China and is a “survivor of [former Chinese Communist Party leader Mao Zedong’s] Communist regime,” according to her biography. She experienced “extremely poor living conditions, food rationing, social chaos and oppressive Communist restrictions and indoctrination” during her time in China, her campaign website reads.

“I urge the country to support me because I am a very unique Republican candidate,” Williams told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “I lived in China for 24 years, and I can help [President Donald] Trump to accomplish his ‘America First’ agenda. I also just really want to speak the truth and represent the people here [in New Hampshire] with transparency and integrity instead of just repeat [Republican Party] talking points.”

The Republican congressional candidate has championed policies such as protecting 2nd Amendment rights, bolstering border security and boosting the U.S. economy. Williams also received an endorsement from now-Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during her previous congressional campaign in November 2024.

Williams made headlines during a November debate after she slammed Goodlander over her net worth, noting that the then-Democratic congressional nominee had previously called herself a “renter,” despite owning a $1.2 million home.

“You’re worth $20 million or $30 million,” Williams said during the debate. “How did you know about regular people’s suffering? Do you go shopping, go to warm up, buy food? I talked to those people.”

She has also publicly criticized former President Joe Biden, claiming in April 2022 that China may have had “blackmail” on Biden that prevented him from denouncing the country for its stringent COVID-19 lockdowns in its biggest city.

Goodlander could run for New Hampshire’s 2nd Congressional District seat in 2026 as an incumbent, but has been floated as a potential contender in New Hampshire’s 2026 Senate race. Goodlander is notably the wife of former National Security Advisor to President Joe Biden, Jake Sullivan, and she previously served as a Department of Justice official during the Biden administration.

While Trump notably won each of the key battleground states in the 2024 presidential election, former Vice President Kamala Harris won New Hampshire, notching 50.9% of the vote to Trump’s 48.1%.

Goodlander’s office did not respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.