Delegate - District 15
Maryland House of Delegates
Lily Qi has served as a Maryland state delegate representing Montgomery County since 2019.
As the first American state legislator to have grown up in the People’s Republic of China, she
was featured in The Washington Post, NPR, Voice of America, and Radio Free Asia, which
turned her story into a graphic novel.
Delegate Qi is a leading voice in Annapolis for economic competitiveness and open
primary elections. She was named “Legislator of the Year” three times for championing the
innovation economy and small businesses. Her legislation has led to a designated state green
bank for clean energy innovation, millions of dollars in matching grants for industries of the
future, Maryland’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program, and the Governor’s
LGBTQ+ Commission.
Before elective office, Delegate Qi enjoyed a diverse career in economic development,
public engagement, and local government, including as a political appointee of former County
Executive Ike Leggett. She has served on numerous boards and commissions. A cultural broker,
Delegate Qi speaks on immigrant integration, business climate, civic and political engagement,
and the Asian American experience. Her memoir, “Elected American: From Red China to Blue
Maryland,” was released in July 2026.