Ya Liu

Ya Liu is the incumbent Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for District 21, covering parts of western Wake County. She is on the ballot for re‑election in the November 3, 2026 general election, having advanced automatically after the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary was cancelled ¹.

Born Guangya Liu in Henan, China, in 1980 or 1981, Liu immigrated to the United States in 2003. She earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Nankai University, a Ph.D. in sociology from North Carolina State University, and a J.D. from North Carolina Central University ⁶. Liu is an attorney and small‑business owner, and she has taught at Duke Law School as a faculty member before entering elected office ¹¹⁹.

Liu’s first elected position was on the Cary Town Council, representing District D from December 2019 until she took office in the state legislature on January 1, 2023. She was the first Asian‑American elected to the Cary council and the first Chinese‑American woman to serve in the North Carolina General Assembly ¹⁶¹⁹. While on the council she advocated for business development, infrastructure growth, public transit, senior services, and environmentally friendly policies ⁸¹⁵.

In the 2022 election Liu won the newly created District 21 seat with 67.7 % of the vote, defeating Republican Gerard Falzon and Libertarian Joshua Morris ⁶. She was re‑elected in 2024, capturing 62.8 % of the vote against Republican Bryson Johnson ¹. During the 2023‑2024 legislative session she served on the Appropriations Committee, the Appropriations – Health and Human Services Committee, the Banking Committee, the Families, Children, and Aging Policy Committee, and the Health Committee ¹⁶. In the 2025‑2026 session she was appointed House Democratic Whip (Minority Whip) ³⁶.

Liu has introduced a range of bills, including the “Fair Maps Act” (HB 20), the “Gun Violence Prevention Act” (HB 28), and legislation to make Election Day a state holiday (HB 31) among others focused on veterans, consumer protection, and Medicaid dental rates ⁴. She has also sponsored resolutions honoring public servants and supporting disaster recovery efforts ¹.

Her campaign messaging emphasizes breaking the Republican super‑majority in the General Assembly, expanding access to affordable health care, fully funding public schools, raising teacher salaries, and supporting working families and small businesses. Liu highlights her personal immigrant story, her two doctoral degrees, and her experience as a small‑business owner and attorney as qualifications for representing her constituents ¹⁵¹⁶.

Sources