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. She resigned from office after pleading guilty to acting as a foreign agent for the Peopleโs Republic of China. She changed her political affiliation from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party in 2022.
๐ Early Life and Background
Wang was born in China in either 1967 or 1968. Her 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.
๐ฉโ๐ซ Community and Political Roles
Wang was an educator and community leader who worked with local groups including the Arcadia Lions Club and the Arcadia Association of Realtors. On December 6, 2022, she was sworn in to the Arcadia city council, representing the 3rd district. She switched parties in 2022.
๐ณ๏ธ 2024 Election Stance
In December 2024, Wang stated that she usually voted Republican in the past, but instead supported Kamala Harris during the 2024 election. On February 13, 2026, Wang was sworn in as mayor of Arcadia, succeeding outgoing mayor Sharon Kwan.
โ๏ธ Resignation and Guilty Plea
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 โone count of acting in the United States as an illegal agentโ of China under 18 U.S.C. ยง 951. She faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison for the felony count.
| Date | Event | Role/Status | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 or 1968 | Born in China | โ | Father was a physician; mother was an acupuncture doctor |
| Early 2000s | Moved to Arcadia | โ | โ |
| 2022 | Switched party affiliation | From Republican to Democrat | โ |
| December 6, 2022 | Sworn in to Arcadia city council | Councilmember, 3rd district | โ |
| December 2024 | Stated past Republican voting but supported Kamala Harris | โ | โ |
| February 13, 2026 | Sworn in as mayor | Mayor of Arcadia | Succeeded Sharon Kwan |
| May 11, 2026 | Resigned as mayor | Former mayor | Federal plea agreement unsealed same day |
| May 11, 2026 | Pleaded guilty to acting as illegal agent of China | Defendant | Faces maximum 10 years in prison |