24-year-old ethnic Chinese girl runs for US Congress

Lindy Li speaks during a campaign in this screenshot from a CCTV program.

Lindy Li, 24, a southwestern Sichuan native who moved to the United States at six, has launched a campaign for the Democratic nomination to represent Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District in the US House of Representatives.

Li moved to Britain after leaving her hometown of Sichuan province at an early age of three, and then emigrated to the Pennsylvanian town of Malvern when she was six.

She graduated from Princeton University three years ago and worked with Merck & Co and Morgan Stanley before quitting as a wealth manager to focus on the campaign.

Li can speak fluent Mandarin and worked very hard as an ethnic Chinese, hoping not to be looked down upon by Westerners. She was admitted into Princeton with a full scholarship in 2008 and served as the Class Council president during her time at the University, the only woman to be elected to serve four consecutive years as a class president.

Lindy Li's photo on her campaign website.

Li told the Princeton's web portal that the experience she gained during her time as Class President has helped her to prepare for her candidacy.

Li, who currently lives in Radnor, Pennsylvania, will face La Salle University's political science professor and 2014 nominee Mary Ellen Balchunis in the Democratic primary. If she wins, she would be expected to run against the Republican favorite, incumbent Senator Patrick Meehan in the general election.

The 7th Congressional District, comprising parts of the Philadelphia suburbs, spanning Delaware, Montgomery, Chester, Berks, and Lancaster counties, is typically competitive and has been given an exactly "even" rating by the Cook Partisan Voting Index.

If Li prevails, she will be the youngest serving member of Congress as she turns 25 in December, and the only women to represent Pennsylvania.

Li was fully aware that her age could be a potential political problem, but was "ready to unleash the power of her generation," said the young path breaker. "There is going to be a lot of skepticism because of my age but patriotism, love of country, has no age." She was quoted by the university's web portal.

In an open letter published on her campaign website, Li promises to be the voice of "the women, the young people, and forgottens of our great commonwealth." Her platform includes many of the issues important to millennial voters, such as college affordability, climate change, women's rights, and campaign finance reform.

Li has already received endorsement and support from Democrats politicians, including former vice-president Albert Gore, and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, since she announced the bid.

Click for Lindy Li's campaign website