Lydia Christensen, the Libertarian Party of Michigan's nominee for U.S. Senate, is running on a platform she calls "Unchaining Michigan." The Ironwood resident and member of the Kiowa-Sioux Nation is seeking the seat in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
Christensen said in the Surround Sound News candidate questionnaire that she is running "as an independent voice grounded in constitutional liberty, tribal sovereignty, environmental stewardship, and real economic security for Michigan's working families." She said she takes zero corporate PAC money.
Candidate information
- Party: Libertarian
- Residence: Ironwood, Michigan
- Education: Christensen told Surround Sound News through the candidate questionnaire that she has the equivalent of two college degrees, with studies in computer programming at Fox Valley Technical College and computer science at UW Oshkosh.
- Family background: Raised in the foster care system with roots in Ironwood. Member of the Kiowa-Sioux Nation.
Experience and public service
Christensen listed her work experience as CEO of Iron Fortress LLC, software engineer at UW System and factory machine operator at Bemis. She said she has not held elected or appointed office.
She cited her educational video series on federal legislation as evidence of her preparation for the role. Christensen also pointed to founding what she described as "a revolutionarily eco-friendly system for tech infrastructure management."
On the issues
Digital privacy and civil liberties
Christensen named digital privacy as her single top priority. She said she would push for a "Digital Bill of Rights" that treats personal data as private property. The proposal would ban federal use of facial recognition for mass surveillance and prohibit the sale of personal information without explicit consent. She said she would vote against reauthorizing FISA Section 702 without a strict warrant requirement and would introduce legislation banning internet service providers from blocking, throttling or creating paid prioritization lanes.
Economy and cost of living
Christensen said she would eliminate federal income tax on earnings under $150,000, raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour and repeal tariffs she called regressive. On housing, she supports a rapid rehousing program through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She also called for repealing $35 billion in oil and gas tax subsidies and streamlining renewable energy permitting.
Health care
Christensen supports what she calls an "opt-in Medicaid for All" system with zero deductibles and no surprise bills. Under her proposal, workers could keep employer plans or opt into the government coverage, with premiums capped as a percentage of income. She said the plan would address doctor shortages in rural communities including the Upper Peninsula by raising provider reimbursement rates.
Federal spending and the national debt
To reduce the deficit, Christensen said she would end $35 billion in annual fossil fuel subsidies and close corporate tax loopholes. She specified S-corp reclassifications, 1031 real estate exchanges, accelerated depreciation and offshore profit breaks as targets. She reiterated her call to cut taxes for anyone earning under $150,000.
Immigration
Christensen said she supports abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), citing what she called "systemic human rights violations," and replacing it with a new enforcement system. She backs a permanent pathway to citizenship for recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. She also said she would introduce legislation repealing the 100-mile inland border zone under federal law, which she said would restore Fourth Amendment protections across all of Michigan.
