Elected American: From Red China to Blue Maryland

An Afternoon with Lily Qi, Maryland State Delegate

Please join Lily Qi, delegate to the Maryland General Assembly, as she discusses her new book.

Maryland State Delegate Lily Qi will discuss her new memoir, Elected American: From Red China to Blue Maryland, which is her unlikely journey from China’s Cultural Revolution to the Maryland State House, and the story of an immigrant community finding its political voice. Arriving alone as an international student in 1989, Qi traces her path from newcomer to citizen to elected official, navigating cultural divides, political skepticism, U.S.-China tensions, and disinformation. As the only U.S. state legislator to have lived through China’s Cultural Revolution, Qi brings a rare perspective on citizenship, identity, and belonging—showing why immigrants don’t have to wait a generation to participate fully in American democracy.

About Our Speaker: Lily Qi has served in the Maryland House of Delegates since 2019, representing Montgomery County. As a champion for economic competitiveness and cultural competency, Qi is a leading voice on immigrant integration, civic and political engagement, and the Asian American experience.

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