Before raising millions of campaign dollars for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris or breaking ranks with the Democratic Party to publish a tell-all political memoir, Lindy Li was trying to build a political career from the candidate’s podium.
asserted
Li → raise → podium
"I just knew," Li said.
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Li → know → ?
"I knew that I was supposed to run for Congress.
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I → know → Congress
But I didn’t know I was supposed to do it at twenty-four years old."
In the lead-up to the 2024 election, that ambition crashed headlong into lifelong convictions about loyalty and stretched them to a breaking point.
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ambition → know → point
Li’s status as a top Democratic fundraiser would soon crumble as she switched her party affiliation over unheeded warning signs about President Joe Biden's decline in the 2024 election.
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she → crumble → election
That break has left her uncertain about her future, but hasn’t stopped her from thinking about what could come next.
uncertain
what → leave → her
"President Rubio calls me in two years, four years, then there's an open seat in Pennsylvania for whatever reason," Li said, ruminating about her future.
"You know, I could solidify my hand on a hundred million dollars.
uncertain
I → call → dollars
I think few people could do a better job, and I'm sorry if that sounds conceited.
uncertain
that → think → job
And I'm not saying I want it; I'm just saying if it falls into my lap, then sure, but who knows?"
asserted
who → say → lap
Li’s family initially came to the United States from China, fleeing persecution from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which Li said had killed her great-grandfather.
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Li → come → grandfather
After growing up briefly in Sheffield, England, Li joined her parents in New England at the age of five.
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Li → grow → five
She recounted how her family moved from Boston to New Haven to Pennsylvania as her father worked as a doctor.
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father → recount → doctor
From her parents, Li said she inherited a sense of work ethic that enabled her to fuel her sense of political destiny.
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that → say → destiny
At Princeton, Li used that work ethic to become the only woman class president to hold the office for four consecutive years.
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Li → use → years
"I used to go around with candy and just be like, ‘Can you please vote for me?
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you → use → me
This is what I intend to do.
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I → intend → what
I want to expand late meals and offer sushi,’ whatever the platform was.
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platform → want → sushi
I was tenacious; nobody could outwork me," Li said.
uncertain
Li → outwork → me
The "plan," Li said, was to become a senator.
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Li → say → ?
But that wasn’t supposed to happen for another ten years when, in 2012, a school shooter attacked Sandy Hook Elementary School, killing 20 children.
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shooter → suppose → children
Li recalled how the attack accelerated her convictions to enter public life and prompted her to leave a budding career in finance.
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attack → recall → finance
"I just felt it in my heart that I was supposed to help do whatever I could to save those kids," Li said.
uncertain
Li → feel → kids
Despite conservative leanings, Li ran twice as a Democrat, never advancing past the primary stage.
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Li → run → stage
But her fundraising caught the attention of Democratic strategists.
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fundraising → catch → strategists
In 2016, she raised nearly $515,000 and in 2018 another $168,000.
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she → raise → 2018
"I didn't intend to become a fundraiser," Li recalled.
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Li → intend → ?
"It's a lot of salesmanship, and I hated it.
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I → hat → it
I hate it.
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I → hate → it
And I also know I'm very good at it.
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I → know → it
This is not me bragging; I just know."
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I → brag → ?
"They came to my home.
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They → come → home
I remember.
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I → remember → ?
The executive director showed up to my home to recruit me for this.
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director → show → this
He noticed— I mean, everybody noticed that as a kid I basically raised $700,000.
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I → notice → 700,000
I just caught the eye of party leadership.
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I → catch → leadership
"
Alongside her aspirations, Li said she also cultivated a sense of loyalty, a quality she said has been a key part of her character since she can remember.
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she → say → character
"Like if somebody's kind to me, I will go to the ends of the earth for them.
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I → go → them
And it always surprises me and I shouldn't be surprised when someone doesn't reciprocate because that's just how I operate.
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I → surprise → me
You have to give me a reason to walk away from you.
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You → have → you
If you have my loyalty, there's very little I wouldn't do for you," Li said.
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Li → have → you
…and 19 more, not listed.
The Aporia
