I am the child of immigrants.

The authoritarian shadow of the Chinese Communist Party compelled my parents to summon the courage to leave their home in Taiwan for a chance at a better life in America. My parents believed America was the land of opportunity; a place where their children could live in freedom to pursue their dreams.

Immigrants like my mother and father, like so many across Orange County and this nation, have encountered obstacles only to rise above them and enrich the lives of their communities in turn. I cherish my immigrant heritage because it has made me who I am today, and I know the dangers of prejudice because I have encountered it firsthand.

That’s why I was shocked to see Congresswoman Michelle Steel, my opponent in the race to represent California’s 45th Congressional District, fuel right-wing disinformation and falsely accuse me of mocking her accent.

I grew up in a household with accents that were different from those we heard on the television or radio, different from the accents of my father’s coworkers and bosses. As an immigrant, my father faced discrimination that threatened our livelihood, as his employer passed him over for promotions he deserved. Still, he never gave up, and he never stopped loving this country. In fact, he channeled America’s founding promise of self-determination – creating his own path as an entrepreneur.

My family – like so many other immigrant families –  knew that what made us different also gave us the strength and courage to do whatever it takes to fight for a better life for the ones you love. That is the story of America, and it is something I would never mock. It is something for which I am eternally grateful.

My parents’ courageous example instilled a work ethic and love of country that propelled me to college on a Navy ROTC scholarship. I inherited my parents’ commitment to self-determination and went on to defend democracies across the globe, fighting ISIS and serving alongside ROK forces on the Korean peninsula.

I’ve traveled around the world defending democracy. When I witnessed an attack on our own on January 6, 2021, I knew I had to do more. Today, too many within the Republican Party have abandoned their commitment to the constitution and rule of law for a radical and dangerous agenda. Congresswoman Michelle Steel played her part, voting against an independent commission to investigate the violent Jan. 6 attack. She abandoned people like my immigrant, Taiwanese parents, who understand the precarity of democracy all too well, in order to appease her radical party.

Time and time again, Congresswoman Steel chooses the radicals in her party over the good of her district, claiming she’ll do one thing, only to fall in lock step with her extreme party boss and vote the other way. She claims she is tough on China, but voted against legislation to stop outsourcing and create jobs here. She insists she is against raising taxes, but just last week campaigned alongside Senator Rick Scott, who drafted the GOP’s midterm agenda to gut Social Security and raise taxes on millions of middle class families. She voted against the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, then had the gall to claim she was responsible for the historic investments coming to Orange County thanks to Democrats’ leadership.

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Now, Congresswoman Steel is lying to her constituents once again because it’s the only way she can get ahead. Congresswoman Steel says one thing here in Orange County and does the opposite in Washington, DC – and I was not afraid to call her out on it. In that 13 second clip weaponized by the Steel campaign and right-wing outlets, I referred to a written transcript of Steel’s record of flip-flopping and feeding constituents convoluted talking points instead of the truth – not any kind of audible accent. Orange County voters know duplicity and political spin when they see it – and they’ll kick Steel out of office for it. For my part, I will continue to hold Steel accountable for her record, because I know the hard-working families of Orange County deserve better.

I am the proud child of Taiwanese immigrants. I have seen the damage of hate and racism firsthand. I have also seen the dangers of the radical right embodied in Congresswoman Michelle Steel. I am determined to stand up to both. The working families of Orange County are better than an out-of-touch representative who would exploit anti-Asian hate against a member of her own community for political gain. Orange County families deserve a representative who will fight tooth and nail for a better future, like my immigrant parents fought for me.

Jay Chen is running to represent the 45th Congressional District.