CCP-linked cash flooded California politics as Newsom sought improved relations with China

Since Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) launched his first gubernatorial bid in 2018, individuals tied to Chinese Communist Party influence operations and employed by Beijing-linked companies have poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into the campaign accounts of California Democrats, including to Newsom and his key allies, a Washington Examiner review of federal, state, and municipal records has found.

Some have characterized Newsom’s relationship with China as prioritizing increased economic cooperation and diplomatic overtures over confrontation. The governor largely avoids direct criticism of the Chinese government and, as a consequence, draws criticism for a too-cozy relationship with China.

A large portion of the China-linked cash that flowed into California under Newsom came from Dominic Ng and Simon Pang, a pair of Southern California bankers reportedly linked to