Eileen Wang

Eileen Wang
Mayor of Arcadia
In office
February 3, 2026 – May 11, 2026
Preceded bySharon Kwan
Succeeded byPaul P. Cheng
Member of the Arcadia City Council
from the 3rd district
In office
December 6, 2022 – May 11, 2026
Succeeded byJon Han
Personal details
Born1969 (age 56–57)
Chengdu, Sichuan, China
PartyRepublican (before 2022)
Democratic (2022–present)
Children2

Eileen Wang (born 1969) is a Chinese-American politician who served as the 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. Wang was elected to the Arcadia City Council on a Democratic Party ticket in November 2022.

Early life

Wang was born in Chengdu, China, in 1969. Wang's father was a physician, who later worked at the University of Southern California, while her mother was an acupuncture doctor. She moved to Arcadia in the early 2000s.

Career

Wang was an educator and community leader who worked with local groups including the Arcadia Lions Club and the Arcadia Association of Realtors. From 2018 to 2022, she was president of the American Southwest Chamber of Commerce USA.

From 2020 to 2022, Wang and her ex-fiancé, Yaoning "Mike" Sun, ran a website called U.S. News Center for the area's Chinese diaspora, which published content favorable to the PRC. In December 2025, Sun was charged by federal prosecutors, on suspicion of operating as an illegal agent for China. According to The Washington Post, Sun was alleged to have knowingly prepared reports that were relayed to an official from China's United Front Work Department, an agency that leverages the Chinese diaspora community to push for Beijing-friendly public policy.

In February 2026, Sun was sentenced to four years in federal prison, after he pleaded guilty.

Politics

In 2022, Wang ran for the Arcadia city council, relying heavily on canvassing to win the election. Sun served as Wang's campaign manager. Her campaign raised $119,000, and received the endorsements of Hilda Solis, Judy Chu, and Mike Eng. Wang also donated to Chu's campaign. According to campaign finance records, Wang's campaign received $3,300 from the Los Angeles arm of Sing Tao US; Sing Tao US has been registered as a foreign agent in the U.S. since 2021. The group denied making contributions to Wang's campaign, claiming that Wang's campaign finance forms were incorrect.

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

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

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

Resignation

On May 11, 2026, Wang resigned as mayor of Arcadia. 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. She faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison for the felony count. On May 29, Wang pleaded guilty before Judge Wesley Hsu, and was allowed to remain out on a $25,000 bond; her sentencing is set for October 6, 2026.

On May 19, the Arcadia city council announced that Councilman Paul P. Cheng was appointed to succeed Wang as mayor. The city council also announced plans to interview candidates in June 2026 to fill Wang's District 3 council seat. On June 16, investment manager John Han was sworn into the District 3 council seat, to succeed Wang.

Personal life

Wang has two sons. Wang was previously married to Henry Wang before divorcing on an unknown date. Wang and her ex-fiancé, Yaoning "Mike" Sun, separated in spring 2024.

Electoral history

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

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Qin, Amy (2026-06-09). "A Mayor, Her Boyfriend and China's Mysterious Propaganda Machine". The New York Times. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  2. 1 2 Fry, Hannah; Mejia, Brittny; Morgan, Cierra; Lin, Summer (May 13, 2026). "Crisis in 'Chinese Beverly Hills': Residents fear a backlash after mayor accused of working with China". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2026-05-14. Retrieved 2026-05-17.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Ellis, Rebecca (December 10, 2024). "In Arcadia and Temple City, Asian American voters fueled gains for Trump". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  4. ↑ Sternfield, Marc (May 11, 2026). "California mayor accused of acting as an illegal agent for China, spreading propaganda". The Hill. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 Mejia, Brittny; Ellis, Rebecca (May 11, 2026). "Arcadia mayor, accused of acting as foreign agent for China, strikes deal with feds". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  6. 1 2 "Arcadia's City Council is poised for historic changes. Here's why". Pasadena Star-News. 5 December 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  7. 1 2 Romo, Vanessa (May 14, 2026). "An LA-area mayor acted as an agent for China. Experts say it's part of a pattern". NPR. Archived from the original on May 14, 2026. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  8. ↑ Mejia, Brittny; Ellis, Rebecca (15 May 2026). "Was the mayor a spy? L.A. suburb left wondering about China's effort to influence". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2026-05-16. Retrieved 2026-05-17.
  9. ↑ Cadell, Cate (19 December 2024). "California campaign manager arrested and charged as Chinese agent". The Washington Post. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  10. ↑ Harter, Clara (10 February 2026). "He worked for and romanced Arcadia councilwoman, and he was a covert agent for China". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2026-05-12. Retrieved 2026-05-17.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 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.
  12. ↑ Pinedo, Peter (2026-05-13). "Dems under fire for 'malign Chinese influence' as shocking spy mayor donations uncovered: 'How many more?'". Fox News. Retrieved 2026-05-31.
  13. ↑ Markay, Lachlan (25 August 2021). "DOJ brands Chinese-owned U.S. newspaper a foreign agent". Axios. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. ↑ Barker, Carrie (February 2026). "City of Arcadia February Community Newsletter - Mayor Eileen Wang and Mayor Pro Tem Paul Cheng Sworn In". ArcadiaCAChamber.org. Archived from the original on 2026-03-09. Retrieved 2026-05-17.
  16. ↑ Ding, Jamie (2026-05-11). "Southern California mayor resigns, will plead guilty to acting as agent for Chinese government". AP News. Retrieved 2026-05-31.
  17. ↑ 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
  18. ↑ "18 U.S. Code § 951 - Agents of foreign governments". LII / Legal Information Institute. Archived from the original on May 19, 2020. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Arcadia Mayor Federally Charged with Acting as Illegal Agent of the People's Republic of China". United States Department of Justice. May 11, 2026. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  20. ↑ 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
  21. ↑ Salhotra, Pooja (May 12, 2026). "Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang Will Plead Guilty to Working as Chinese Agent". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  22. ↑ Mejia, Brittny; Ellis, Rebecca (29 May 2026). "Former California mayor pleads guilty to secretly working as foreign agent of China". Los Angeles Times.
  23. ↑ Taglieri, Joe (21 May 2026). "Cheng appointed Arcadia mayor; council seeks to fill seat vacated by PRC spy". HeySoCal.
  24. ↑ Silla, Joshua (20 May 2026). "Arcadia City Council pivots to fill Eileen Wang's seat, acknowledging 'hurtful' time after federal charges". Pasadena Star-News.
  25. ↑ Rivera, Anissa (19 June 2026). "Arcadia City Council picks replacement for former mayor". San Gabriel Valley Tribune.
  26. ↑ "LA County - 2022 General Election Results".

Further reading