Amy Chai

Chai was born in Detroit, Michigan, and attended Paul Harding High School. In her own words, she grew up in a family with very little money.[2] She earned a bachelor's degree from Johns Hopkins University (1985), an M.D. from Indiana University School of Medicine (1989), and completed training at the University of Michigan Medical School (1992). Ballotpedia lists further study in general medicine and epidemiology at the University of Virginia (1997), and her campaign website says that fellowship included an MS in epidemiology.[2][4]

Chai is a physician board certified in internal medicine and addiction medicine, and she describes her work as caring for patients with addictions, mental illness and complex problems. Her campaign website calls her an expert in primary care and addiction medicine.[2][4] She spent roughly a decade home-educating her children before returning to medical practice, and says she received a U.S. Presidential Teacher award for that work. Her campaign website dates the award to 2011.[3][4] She says she wrote a book about her homeschooling experience, "East, West, Love, Learn," and writes a Substack newsletter called "Chai Society."[2] She says she received a public service award for volunteering to teach STEM subjects to children in Hartford, and has volunteered with church groups and a South Sudanese nonprofit.[2]

Chai ran for Connecticut's 3rd Congressional District in 2022 as an Independent Party of Connecticut candidate, finishing third with 1.7% of the vote.[2] In January 2026 she announced a run as a Republican for the 1st District, a seat John Larson has held since 1999, according to The Bristol Press. She became the nominee after the August 11 Republican primary was canceled.[6][2] She described her campaign as focused on mental health, addiction, poverty and education.[2][3] She received 31% of the vote to Luke Bronin's 67.3%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[1] Her candidate survey says she is married to a Taiwanese immigrant and has two adult children.[2]