Wikipedia

Lily Tang Williams

Lily Tang Williams (Chinese: 唐百合; born July 30, 1964) is an American politician and activist originally from China. A member of the Republican Party, Tang Williams is the Republican nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district in the 2024 elections, having also unsuccessfully run for that district in 2022. She also chaired the Colorado Libertarian Party from 2015 to 2016 and was the Libertarian nominee for the United States Senate in Colorado in 2016.

Lily Tang Williams
唐百合
Tang Williams in 2016
Chair of the Colorado Libertarian Party
In office
April 26, 2015 – January 11, 2016
Preceded byJeff Orrok
Succeeded byNathan Grabau
Personal details
Born
Lily Tang

(1964-07-30) July 30, 1964 (age 60)
Chengdu, Sichuan, China
CitizenshipUnited States
China (until 1995)
Political partyRepublican (1995-2008; 2019-present)
Other political
affiliations		CCP (until 1995)
Libertarian (2008-2019)
Spouse
John Williams
​
(m. 1990)​
Children3
EducationFudan University (BA)
University of Texas at Austin (MSW)

Early life and education

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Lily Tang Williams was born on July 30, 1964, in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province in western China.[1] Born to illiterate working-class parents, she grew up under the rule of Mao Zedong and her early childhood coincided with the Cultural Revolution, which lasted until Mao's death in 1976. She grew up in poverty and excelled in school, graduating at the top of her high school class and placing near the top of China's national exams.

Tang Williams studied law at Fudan University in Shanghai. While in college, she met a foreign exchange student from the United States who showed her a pocket version of the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, sparking her interest in immigrating to the United States.[2] She received a bachelor's degree in 1985 and subsequently joined the law school faculty at Fudan University and practiced corporate law while China began rebuilding its economy. Sponsored by a Fulbright scholar from the University of Texas at Austin, she immigrated to the United States in 1988 and was granted asylum.[3] In 1991, she received a master of social work from the University of Texas at Austin.[4] She became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1995.[5][6]

Business career

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Tang Williams was a research assistant at the University of Texas at Austin and got a minimum wage job at a telemarketing company to improve her English skills.[7] After finishing graduate school, she became a social worker in Laramie, Wyoming, primarily working with troubled youth. In the late 1990s, she moved to Hong Kong to work as a corporate executive for PREL, Inc., helping to manage Walmart's operations in China.[8] In 1999, she moved to Parker, Colorado, to work for a telecommunications company.[9] When the company went bankrupt in 2000, Tang Williams started a consulting firm to help American companies conduct business in China and provide expert witness services on China-related matters. She and her husband took advantage of the housing market crash and in 2008 launched a rental property management company that operates in Colorado and Nevada.[7] She is also a public speaker for the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation and travels around the United States to give speeches about her experiences growing up in communist China.[10]

Political career

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Colorado politics

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Upon becoming a U.S. citizen in 1995, Tang Williams registered as a Republican after being drawn to the party's positions on limited government. However, she became disillusioned with the party due to surveillance provisions in the Patriot Act and the passage of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act and ultimately left the Republican Party to become a Libertarian in 2008.

Tang Williams served on the board of her neighborhood's homeowner association from 2000 to 2002 and chaired the board of her children's charter school in Douglas County from 2005 to 2008. She first became involved in politics during an internship for Colorado State Representative Brad Young in 2002. She was motivated to become a political activist following the election of Barack Obama. Initially speaking out against Common Core and gun control laws, she testified against new state-level gun control laws at the Colorado State Capitol in 2013.[11][12]

Tang Williams was a regional coordinator for former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson's 2012 presidential campaign and supported Johnson's candidacy in 2016 after he won the Libertarian nomination. Tang Williams and her husband were both national delegates to the Libertarian National Convention in 2012 and 2016.[13] She first ran for office in 2014 as the Libertarian candidate for the Colorado House of Representatives in House District 44, winning only 6.4% of the vote.[14]

On April 26, 2015, Tang Williams was elected chair of the Colorado Libertarian Party.[15] She resigned on January 11, 2016, to run for the United States Senate as a Libertarian.

2016 U.S. Senate campaign

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On January 12, 2016, after resigning as chair of the Colorado Libertarian Party, Tang Williams announced her candidacy for the United States Senate in the 2016 election to unseat incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Michael Bennet. She participated in a general election debate against Bennet and Republican nominee Darryl Glenn, becoming the first third-party candidate in recent memory to participate in such a debate in Colorado.[16] She won 3.6% of the vote in the general election, underperforming Johnson, who won 5.2% of the vote in Colorado on the same ballot.[17][18]

New Hampshire politics

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In 2019, Tang Williams and her husband moved to Weare, New Hampshire.[19] During this time, Tang Williams left the Libertarian Party and rejoined the Republican Party when she registered to vote in New Hampshire. Though she has denied being a member of the Free State Project, she spoke at the organization's Porcupine Freedom Festival as a congressional candidate in 2024.[20][21][22] During the COVID-19 pandemic, she founded a women's social group in Weare to connect local women during quarantine.[23] She is a co-founder and chair of the New Hampshire Asian American Coalition and sits on the advisory board of U.S. Parents Involved in Education.[24][25][26] She endorsed Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election and has promoted conspiracy theories about the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election.[27][28]

2022 congressional campaign

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Tang Williams ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district in the 2022 elections to unseat incumbent Democratic U.S. Representative Annie Kuster. She faced former Hillsborough County Treasurer Bob Burns and Keene Mayor George Hansel in the Republican primary. She was endorsed by Tea Party Express, a Tea Party movement organization that supports conservative candidates for state and federal office.[29] She placed third in the primary, winning 24.9% of the vote and losing to Burns, who went on to be defeated by Kuster in the general election.[30][31]

2024 congressional campaign

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After the 2022 midterms, Tang Williams announced she would run again for the U.S. House of Representatives in New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district in 2024 to replace Kuster, who is retiring instead of seeking reelection.[32] She faced Lincoln businessman Vikram Mansharamani and Hanover businessman Bill Hamlen in the Republican primary and defeated them and 10 other candidates with 35.8% of the vote.[33] As the Republican nominee in this district, Tang Williams will face Democratic nominee Maggie Goodlander, a former Biden White House advisor and Justice Department lawyer, in the general election.[34]

Personal life

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Tang Williams met her husband, John Williams, on the day she arrived in the United States in 1988. They married in 1990 and have three children together.[35][36] They live in Weare, New Hampshire.[37]

References

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  1. ^ Sexton, Adam (2024-09-11). "Lily Tang Williams, R, 2024 candidate for 2nd Congressional District seat in New Hampshire". WMUR. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  2. ^ Williams, Lily Tang (2023-09-15). "TANG WILLIAMS: A Pocket-Sized U.S. Constitution Freed Me from Enslavement". NH Journal. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  3. ^ "Lily Tang Williams". Victims of Communism Memorial Project.
  4. ^ "Vote Smart | Facts For All". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  5. ^ Staff (2016-09-23). "Parker Libertarian competes for Senate seat". Colorado Community Media. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  6. ^ Nichols, Brian (March 25, 2022). "Lily Tang Williams". The Brian Nichols Show. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Gazette, TIFFANY DITTO The (2016-10-24). "Lily Tang Williams' U.S. Senate run is about pursuing the American dream". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  8. ^ "About". 2015-02-19. Archived from the original on 2015-02-19. Retrieved 2024-09-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. ^ Staff (2015-05-06). "Lily Tang Williams elected chairwoman of the Libertarian Party of Colorado". Colorado Community Media. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  10. ^ "Lily Tang Williams". Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  11. ^ Tang Williams, Lily (August 29, 2024). "It is sad to see this. Dems destroyed CO where we lived for 21 years. My first testimony in 2013 as a citizen was in the State Capital against their gun control. The Dems voted to limit AR-15 magazines, they tried to ban them this year. Denver is a sanctuary city, the illegals moved around in the nearby area with AR-15, took over apartment buildings. Dems have insane policies, empower criminals, disarm the law-abiding citizens. Vote them out. @GunOwners". Twitter. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  12. ^ Staff, Eagle Times (2024-08-22). "Lily Tang Williams fights for the American Dream". eagletimes.com | Serving the Twin State Valley. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  13. ^ Camera, Daily (2016-10-15). "Lily Tang Williams: U.S. Senate". Boulder Daily Camera. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  14. ^ "2014 General Election Results". www.sos.state.co.us. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  15. ^ Staff (2015-05-06). "Lily Tang Williams elected chairwoman of the Libertarian Party of Colorado". Colorado Community Media. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  16. ^ "In a first, Libertarian candidate in Colorado's U.S. Senate race qualifies for major debate". The Denver Post. 2016-09-06. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  17. ^ "Colorado U.S. Senate Results: Michael Bennet Wins". The New York Times. 2017-08-01. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  18. ^ "Colorado Election Results 2016". The New York Times. 2017-08-01. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  19. ^ "Seeking Freedom: From Communist China to the State of New Hampshire". Issuu. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  20. ^ "Lily Tang Williams beats out 12 others in 2nd congressional district to face Maggie Goodlander in general election". Concord Monitor. 2024-09-11. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  21. ^ "Featured Speakers for PorcFest XXI | PorcFest". Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  22. ^ PorcFest (September 11, 2024). "Congratulations @Lily4Liberty! It was great to see you at #PorcFest this year, and we hope to welcome you come back soon!". Twitter. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  23. ^ Tang Williams, Lily (April 21, 2024). "I founded a lady's social group "Weare Pink" 3 years ago in my town. It has grown to 109 members. If you live in Weare area, you are a woman interested in making friends & having fun, please join us on FB. There is time for work, time for family, there is time for fun". Twitter. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  24. ^ Williams, Latrice. "Congressional candidate talks fleeing communism with Pinnacle students". Shelby Star. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  25. ^ Education, US Parents Involved in. "US Parents Involved in Education". US Parents Involved in Education. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  26. ^ Staff, Byline: Ink Link (2021-03-21). "New Hampshire Asian American Coalition announces formation - Manchester Ink Link". Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  27. ^ "Press Releases". Lily Tang Williams for Congress. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  28. ^ Leader, Kevin Landrigan/Union (2024-09-05). "Williams said she "still has questions" about 2020 election". UnionLeader.com. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  29. ^ "Tea Party Express Endorses". 2022-08-04. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  30. ^ "New Hampshire Second Congressional District Primary Election Results". The New York Times. 2022-09-13. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  31. ^ "New Hampshire Second Congressional District Election Results". The New York Times. 2022-11-08. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  32. ^ Alfaro, Mariana (2024-03-27). "New Hampshire Democratic Rep. Ann Kuster to retire from Congress". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  33. ^ "New Hampshire 2nd Congressional District Primary Election Results". The New York Times. 2024-09-10. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  34. ^ "Goodlander and Williams secure wins in NH's 2nd Congressional District race". New Hampshire Public Radio. 2024-09-11. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  35. ^ "Lily Tang Williams For US Congress – NGCRC". Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  36. ^ Tang Williams, Lily (May 26, 2024). "34 years ago, I married John Charles Williams, the most honorable man I ever met in the world. We met the first night I arrived at America from China in Austin, TX at his mother's house. I believe it was destiny for us to meet after all the struggles I went through and years of him being single, he was just patiently waiting for a right girl to show up in his life. We dated about two years before getting married. I had to convince my Chinese big family to give their blessing to our interracial marriage. John is the most influential man in my life. Without his love and understanding, his knowledge and wisdom, his patience to teach me about liberty and free market throughout our married years, I might be still trapped in my enslaved mind by the centralized government education I received in China. I am a lot more capable today to think freely as an individual because of his tireless efforts trying to educate me with truth and persuade me with reason. I was stubborn in many ways. It was a long process of transformation that took two decades in this country for me to reverse the indoctrination I received in Communist China. John, thank you for being such a loving husband, a great father to our three children, a business partner, an advisor and my best friend. Thank you for saving me in your special kind and patient way. Thank you for accepting me fully with all my flaws and loving me for who I was and who I am today. Thank you for your unwavering trust and support as I try to fight to preserve freedom in America, running for US Congress with you by my side every step of the way. I love you more than I can say. Happy anniversary! #NH02 #lily4congress #lilytangwilliams". Twitter. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  37. ^ Sexton, Adam (2024-09-11). "Lily Tang Williams, R, 2024 candidate for 2nd Congressional District seat in New Hampshire". WMUR. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
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