Lydia Christensen

Lydia Christensen was born in Wisconsin, although her family is from Michigan, and spent some time in South Dakota while growing up. She earned a bachelor's degree in computer science at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh before returning to Michigan.[2] Ballotpedia says she graduated from Appleton West High School and attended Fox Valley Technical College.[1] In Oshkosh she served on the city council's diversity, equity and inclusion board and took part in the university's student assembly, and she helped with political campaigns and volunteered at a local Salvation Army.[2]

Christensen describes herself as trained as a computer scientist who started her own company, Iron Fortress LLC, and Ballotpedia lists her profession as CEO. The Mining Journal described the firm as providing sustainable energy solutions for artificial intelligence computing and Bitcoin mining, powered by solar, wind and hydroelectric energy.[1][3] She was running as an independent before the Libertarian Party nominated her, and she advanced from its convention on June 28, 2026. In her Ballotpedia survey she describes herself as a transgender candidate who enjoys music and natural environments.[2][1]

Her platform included a proposed constitutional amendment creating a digital bill of rights, an opt-in Medicaid-for-all system, and the decommissioning of the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac.[2] According to her survey, her campaign emphasized constitutional and digital rights, renewable energy and a Medicaid-for-all proposal.[1][2] She received 1.0% of the vote to Abdul El-Sayed's 52.5%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[4]