Opposing candidates Goodlander and Tang Williams are debating for the Congressional District 2 seat

By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org

MANCHESTER – Two women whose life stories couldn't be further apart debated – at times heatedly – Thursday in a race for the District 2 congressional seat now being vacated by Annie Kuster, D-NH.

They shared their viewpoints on issues ranging from child care to abortion to immigration to the peaceful transfer of power to support for Ukraine, offering clear differences of opinion.

Chinese-born “survivor of communism” Lily Tang Williams of Weare, the Republican candidate who became a U.S. citizen in 1994, was on par with the Nashua native, Groton and Yale law graduate and member of Nashua's politically connected Tampsoi family , Maggie Goodlander during a debate ahead of the Nov. 5 general election on WMUR-TV.

It was her last of two.

Many in District 2, which makes up much of the western part of the state, are still getting to know the two relative newcomers.

Goodlander, a Democrat who served in the Navy, was a Supreme Court clerk, was an assistant attorney general in the U.S. Antitrust Division from 2022 to 2024 and was a senior policy adviser to U.S. Senators Joe Lieberman and John McCain, is married to the Biden administration National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. As the daughter of former state representative and congressional candidate Betty Tamposi and granddaughter of real estate developer and Republican operative Sam Tamposi, she has deep political roots in the state.

Tang Williams, a libertarian lawyer and Chinese business consultant who worked in Colorado and previously in New Hampshire, came to the United States with $100 and is what Gov. Chris Sununu calls a “phenomenal success story.”

The debate gave the two an opportunity to introduce themselves and at the same time make a closing statement.

The questions began about her personal ties to the Second Congressional District.

When asked if Goodlander would live in the county, she said she is a proud New Hampshire girl and that's what made her who she is today. She said she taught at UNH and Dartmouth and her home in Nashua overlooks the hospital where she was born. She said she would own property in the district if elected, noting “this is an advocacy issue” that needs to be done.

Tang Williams was asked if she only moved here from Colorado to run for office.

She said that during her race in Colorado it was impossible to get the kind of traction she needed, such as a debate platform that WMUR provided.

She said the government could print unlimited money on the backs of the working class, leading to inflation.

“It is always the government that can print money,” Tang Williams said.

Goodlander was asked about the quickest route to inflation relief.

“People are feeling the pain of high prices right now,” she said. “There is no panacea here.”

She said one driver was antitrust law and that her candidate had very different views on tax fairness. Giving the rich a big break is what Goodlander said her opponent welcomed.

“I will fight with everything I have to fight the pain,” Goodlander said.

One topic was child care. Goodlander said the issue has been for people to get back to work and this is a workforce development issue. She said a bipartisan solution may be in the works in Washington.

When asked about Social Security and her previous comments about it while running for office in Colorado, Tang Williams said it is an earned benefit and for people who pay into the system throughout their lives, but if you're not an American, you should ” “Don't get any part of this cake.”

Goodlander said we must strengthen and protect Social Security.

She noted that her opponent was ready to put it on the “chopping block” and she said Tang Williams' positions were opposite.

On immigration, Goodlander did not say whether she would support deportation and that a border security bill has been blocked by “politicians who want to sow chaos,” referring to former President Donald Trump, who is running for president as the Republican candidate.

Tang Williams said it took her six years as an immigrant, but she got here “on the right path.”

She said she would support deporting illegal immigrants.

On abortion, Tang Williams said she would not vote on the issue at the national level.

“If a baby can live outside of its mother's body… why would you want to act like Communist China and kill that baby?” said Tang Williams.

Goodlander said this is a key issue on which there are massive differences between the two candidates.

When asked about late-term abortions, Goodlander said she had her own personal experience when she suffered a stillbirth at 20 weeks of pregnancy last year and lost her son.

Women in America should not be living and trying to navigate this post-Roe world and she would fight to protect a woman's right to choose.

Asked about the peaceful transfer of power, Tang Williams said there were issues in the 2020 elections where there were questions and people had the right to protest.

When asked if this election was fair and free, she said: “I don't know… I'm not God. I’m not an angel.”

Goodlander said these are not legitimate questions, they are debunked conspiracy theories that are a threat to democracy.

She said anyone who has doubts about who won has no business serving in Congress.

The climate crisis was also discussed, with the two women taking completely opposite positions and approaches.

Goodlander said reliable clean energy solutions will reduce energy costs and create jobs in the state.

Tang Williams said climate change is real, but she doesn't like the top-down approach.

On reducing the deficit, Goodlander said massive subsidies to big oil companies could reduce the deficit.

Tang Williams said the best way to reduce the deficit is to cut jobs and stick to a plan, but Goodlander said that would hurt people.

Tang Williams said the country cannot afford to provide more aid to Ukraine.

Goodlander said this is a fight for democracy that is supported across the district.

“I firmly believe in the Ukrainian cause,” Goodlander said.

Tang Williams attacked Goodlander's husband, national security adviser Jake Sullivan, and Goodlander urged her to keep the debate professional, not personal.

Regarding Israel, Goodlander said it has the right to defend itself and that both the United States and Israel have a humanitarian responsibility toward Gaza.

Tang Williams said she supports Israel.

She said she was independent and the embodiment of the American dream.

“Do you want someone from the swamp?” she said of Goodlander, referring to her time in Washington.

“I will represent you with pride and transparency,” Tang Williams said if elected.

Goodlander said she has taken the oath to protect the nation many times in many capacities and believes we can all still come together to protect freedom and democracy.

“It would be the honor of my life to serve New Hampshire in the People’s House,” Goodlander said.