On Thursday, the candidates for the 2nd Congressional District of New Hampshire held a televised debate, where grassroots Chinese-American candidate faced off against an elite lawyer. The two female candidates engaged in heated debates over economic issues, immigration, and foreign policy.
Republican and small business owner Lily Tang Williams and Democratic candidate and lawyer Maggie Goodlander are vying for the seat of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2nd District. The incumbent representative, Annie Kuster (Democrat), is about to step down.
Republican candidate Lily Tang is a Chinese immigrant who was born in Chengdu, Sichuan during the Cultural Revolution. Before coming to study in Texas, she worked as a lawyer in China. She then moved to Colorado and ran for the U.S. Senate as a libertarian before relocating to New Hampshire five years ago.
This is her second time running on behalf of the Republican Party in New Hampshire’s 2nd District.
Goodlander has worked in three federal government departments, from a foreign policy adviser in the U.S. Senate to a clerk at the Supreme Court, and then as a senior adviser in the Biden administration at the White House.
She also has military experience serving as an intelligence officer in the Navy Reserve. Goodlander was born in New Hampshire, attended Yale University and law school. She recently moved back to New Hampshire to run for office.
With only a few days left until the election, Thursday’s debate was intense, with much of the focus on economic issues. The candidates were asked how they would lower the cost of living for the people after a period of high inflation.
“There is no magic bullet,” Goodlander said. “But I can assure you and the audience tonight that I will do my best to reduce costs.”
Lily Tang attributed inflation to government spending following the COVID-19 pandemic. She said the only way to lower costs is to cut spending.
“Democrats, including my opponent, blame inflation on businesses,” Lily Tang said. “I blame Washington, D.C., for endlessly printing money and borrowing to pay debt.”
Goodlander suggested that the government should use antitrust and consumer protection laws to combat corporate greed.
“We have support from various ideological spectrums driving really important and fundamental reforms to antitrust and consumer protection laws that will bring change for hardworking, struggling people in New Hampshire,” she said.
When asked about childcare costs, Lily Tang continued to see government spending as the root of the problem.
“When the government creates problems, they blame it on other things,” she said. “Then they offer bigger government solutions, printing more money for you. Then inflation goes up further. It’s a vicious cycle.”
The candidates were asked about their views on one of the most controversial issues of this election cycle, abortion. Goodlander said, based on her own experience with miscarriage, women should be responsible for their own reproductive health decisions, not the government.
“My view is that women can be trusted and must be trusted to make their own healthcare decisions,” she said. “When a woman is trying to make one of the most difficult healthcare decisions she can, politicians or judges have no place.”
Lily Tang said she supports the Supreme Court’s decision, which leaves the issue to individual states, and she would not vote in favor of a federal ban on abortion. She said she also does not support more lenient abortion laws.
“This is a state issue,” Lily Tang said. “I respect the decisions made by our state through our largest representative government. Right now, we have legal and safe abortions up to six months, a decision made by people through their representatives.”
On the issue of immigration, Lily Tang was asked if she would support former President Trump’s call to deploy federal agents in communities to find and deport undocumented immigrants. She did not directly answer but emphasized the importance of enforcement for those seeking legal immigration to the U.S.
“What message do we want to send to the world?” she said. “If you follow the law, then we will punish you. If you come here illegally, then we will give you a fast track to citizenship.”
Goodlander stated that she supports a bipartisan border bill that Trump intervened in and vetoed.
“I believe we should push for the law that President Biden hopes to sign, a law supported by both parties, but my opponent opposes. One reason is because Trump believes that standing between the American people and the immigration reform they deserve serves his personal interests,” Goodlander said.
Regarding foreign policy, Lily Tang criticized the idea of providing more aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia, while Goodlander stated that the U.S. supporting its allies and addressing threats around the world is crucial.