Eileen Wang
Mayor of Arcadia
In office
February 3, 2026 – May 11, 2026
Preceded by Sharon Kwan
Succeeded by Vacant
Member of the Arcadia City Council
from the 3rd district
In office
December 6, 2022 – May 11, 2026
Succeeded by Vacant
Personal details
Born 1967 or 1968 (age 58–59)
Sichuan, China
Party Republican (before 2022)
Democratic (2022–present)
Children 2

Eileen Wang (born 1967 or 1968) is a Chinese-American politician who served as mayor of Arcadia, California from February 3 to May 11, 2026, when she resigned from office after pleading guilty to acting as a foreign agent for the People's Republic of China. A former Republican, Wang changed her political affiliation to the Democratic Party in 2022.

Early life

Wang was born in China, in the Sichuan province,[1] in either 1967 or 1968.[2][3] Wang's father was a physician, who later worked at the University of Southern California, while her mother was an acupuncture doctor.[4] She moved to Arcadia in the early 2000s.[2]

Career

Wang was an educator and community leader who worked with local groups including the Arcadia Lions Club and the Arcadia Association of Realtors.[5] From 2018 to 2022, she was president of the American Southwest Chamber of Commerce USA.[1] From 2020 to 2022, Wang and her ex-fiance, Yaoning "Mike" Sun, ran a website called U.S. News Center for the area's Chinese diaspora.[6]

Politics

In 2022, Wang ran for the Arcadia city council, relying heavily on canvassing to win the election. Her campaign raised $119,000, and received the endorsements of Hilda Solis, Judy Chu, and Mike Eng.[7] Campaign finance records also showed that Wang's campaign received $3,300 from the Los Angeles arm of Sing Tao US;[7] Sing Tao US has been registered as a foreign agent in the U.S. since 2021.[8]

On December 6, 2022, Wang was sworn in to the Arcadia city council, representing the 3rd district.[5] She switched parties in 2022.[9] In December 2024, Wang stated that she usually voted Republican in the past, but instead supported Kamala Harris during the 2024 election.[2]

During 2025, she served as mayor pro tem of Arcadia.[7]

On February 13, 2026, Wang was sworn in as mayor of Arcadia, succeeding outgoing mayor Sharon Kwan.[10]

Resignation

On May 11, 2026, Wang resigned as mayor of Arcadia.[6][11][4] That day, a federal plea agreement was unsealed, revealing that Wang had been criminally charged with and agreed to plead guilty to "one count of acting in the United States as an illegal agent" of China under 18 U.S.C. § 951.[12][13][14][15] She faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison for the felony count.[4][16]

Personal life

Wang has two sons.[2]

Electoral history

2022 Arcadia municipal election – 3rd city council district[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Eileen Wang 1,236 64.21%
Nonpartisan Sheng Chang 689 35.79%

See also

  • Asian Americans in politics
  • Chinese espionage in California
  • Chinese espionage in the United States
  • List of Chinese Americans
  • List of Chinese spy cases in the United States

References

  1. ^ a b Fry, Hannah; Mejia, Brittny; Morgan, Cierra; Lin, Summer (13 May 2026). "Crisis in 'Chinese Beverly Hills': Residents fear a backlash after mayor accused of working with China". Los Angeles Times.
  2. ^ a b c d Ellis, Rebecca (10 December 2024). "In Arcadia and Temple City, Asian American voters fueled gains for Trump". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  3. ^ Sternfield, Marc (11 May 2026). "California mayor accused of acting as an illegal agent for China, spreading propaganda". The Hill. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  4. ^ a b c Mejia, Brittny; Ellis, Rebecca (11 May 2026). "Arcadia mayor, accused of acting as foreign agent for China, strikes deal with feds". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  5. ^ a b "Arcadia's City Council is poised for historic changes. Here's why". Pasadena Star-News. 5 December 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  6. ^ a b Romo, Vanessa (2026-05-14). "An LA-area mayor acted as an agent for China. Experts say it's part of a pattern". NPR. Retrieved 2026-05-14.
  7. ^ a b c Ellis, Rebecca (2 May 2025). "China allegedly tried to influence this politician. She says she's not going anywhere". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  8. ^ Markay, Lachlan (25 August 2021). "DOJ brands Chinese-owned U.S. newspaper a foreign agent". Axios. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  9. ^ Ellis, Rebecca; Fry, Hannah (21 December 2024). "Who is the politician at the center of the latest Chinese influence scandal?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  10. ^ "February 2026 - Mayor Eileen Wang and Mayor Pro Tem Paul Cheng Sworn In". February 2026.
  11. ^ "Southern California mayor resigns, will plead guilty to acting as agent for Chinese government". CNN. Associated Press. 2026-05-12. Retrieved 2026-05-12.
  12. ^ United States of America v. Eileen Wang: Charge Sheet United States District Court for the Central District of California. April 1, 2026. Archived May 12, 2026, at Perma.cc
  13. ^ "18 U.S. Code § 951 - Agents of foreign governments". LII / Legal Information Institute. Archived from the original on 2020-05-19. Retrieved 2026-05-12.
  14. ^ "Arcadia Mayor Federally Charged with Acting as Illegal Agent of the People's Republic of China". United States Department of Justice. 2026-05-11. Retrieved 2026-05-12.
  15. ^ Plea Agreement for Defendant Eileen Wang. United States District Court for the Central District of California. April 1, 2026. Archived May 12, 2026, at Perma.cc
  16. ^ Salhotra, Pooja (2026-05-12). "Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang Will Plead Guilty to Working as Chinese Agent". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-05-12.
  17. ^ "LA County - 2022 General Election Results".