DENVER – Libertarian Lily Tang Williams is drawing upon her background as a Chinese immigrant in running for U.S. Senate in Colorado.
Having left the communist country for a different life in America, she takes liberty seriously. But Williams believes some of the freedom she grew to love in America is eroding.
“I hate that the country I love is becoming more like the country I left,” she said. “More tyranny, more police state, more corruption, less liberty and less justice for the common folks. I want to become a people’s senator, not a special interest senator.”
Williams understands that she isn’t likely to win the race against two major-party candidates. But she says she can at least advance a message in the process.
She is running against Democratic incumbent Michael Bennet, Republican challenger Darryl Glenn and Green Party challenger Arn Menconi.
AGE: 52
RESIDENCE: Parker
EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science in Law, Shanghai, China; master’s degree in social work, University of Texas at Austin.
POLITICAL BACKGROUND: Colorado delegate to national Libertarian Party convention, 2012 and 2016; Libertarian candidate for House District 44, 2014; former state chairwoman of the Libertarian Party of Colorado.
OCCUPATION: Self-employed small business working from home
FAMILY: Husband, John Williams; three children.
ISSUES: Limited government; individual rights and liberty; reducing government spending; reducing regulations over businesses; protecting Second Amendment; create a free market health care system; more competition in education; a “quick, secure and transparent” immigration system; market solutions to energy; drug decriminalization; government should stay out of marriage; strong military; end corruption in Washington.
Peter Marcus