Virginia’s Democratic Party gubernatorial hopeful Abigail Spanberger has landed in hot water over $50,000 in campaign cash from a Chinese Communist Party member, as the Washington Free Beacon reports. The donations, tied to an electric vehicle magnate, have sparked a firestorm of criticism from Republicans and ethics watchdogs. This scandal raises serious questions about foreign influence in Virginia’s elections.
Spanberger, a rising star in Virginia’s Democratic Party circles, accepted $50,000 from Pin Ni, an executive at Wanxiang Group and president of its Chicago-based subsidiary, Wanxiang America. Campaign finance records show Ni’s contributions flowed in during April and May. Virginia law, however, slams the brakes on foreign nationals making political donations, putting Spanberger’s campaign in a legal gray zone.
Pin Ni isn’t just any donor -- he’s a card-carrying member of the Chinese Communist Party, as confirmed by Wanxiang Group’s 2025 annual report. The report proudly notes Ni’s 15-time recognition as an “Outstanding Communist Party Member.” Chinese law typically forbids CCP members from holding foreign citizenship, making Ni’s ability to donate legally dubious at best.
Ni’s deep ties to the CCP extend beyond his party membership. In a 2018 speech, Wanxiang Group CEO Lu Weiding introduced Ni as a key member of the company’s corporate CCP committee. “Everyone here is a Communist Party member,” Lu declared, underscoring Wanxiang’s tight alignment with Beijing’s ideology.
Lu’s words paint a troubling picture for Spanberger’s campaign. Accepting funds from someone so entrenched in the CCP suggests a blind spot on foreign influence. Republicans are pouncing, arguing this cash grab undermines Virginia’s electoral integrity.
Ni’s role at Wanxiang America, a subsidiary of the Chinese conglomerate Wanxiang Group, adds another layer of concern. The company owns KARMA Automotive, a luxury electric vehicle maker born from the ashes of Fisker Automotive’s 2014 collapse. Spanberger’s cozy relationship with Ni smells like a conflict of interest, given her vocal support for EV policies.
Spanberger has championed the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, which conveniently made KARMA Automotive eligible for EV tax credits in 2022. Her campaign website doubles down, pushing incentives for clean energy, including electric vehicles. These policies could directly boost Ni’s business interests, raising eyebrows about the true cost of his $50,000 donation.
Virginia’s Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears didn’t mince words, slamming Spanberger’s agenda. “Abigail Spanberger’s energy plan is a roadmap to ruin,” Earle-Sears said, accusing her of pushing a radical progressive agenda that kills jobs. Her campaign’s acceptance of Ni’s money only fuels GOP claims of hypocrisy.
Ethics watchdogs are equally alarmed. “It’s bad enough if Spanberger is taking illegal campaign donations from a foreign source, but outrageous that it’s from a member of the Chinese Communist Party,” said Paul Kamenar of the National Legal and Policy Center. The stench of impropriety is hard to ignore when the donor’s company stands to gain from Spanberger’s policies.
Ni’s influence extends beyond Wanxiang, as he serves on the board of the U.S.-China Strong Foundation, a group critics call a CCP front for pushing China’s Belt and Road Initiative. He’s also a vice chair of the China General Chamber of Commerce, which regularly hosts CCP leaders. These affiliations tie Ni directly to Beijing’s global ambitions.
In a move straight out of China’s playbook, Ni and Wanxiang America have backed a student exchange program proposed by President Xi Jinping. The initiative aims to bring 50,000 American youths to China over five years, a plan critics see as soft-power propaganda. Spanberger’s acceptance of Ni’s money taints her campaign with questions of foreign loyalty.
Virginia’s voters deserve clarity on where their candidates stand. Spanberger’s push for electric vehicles aligns suspiciously well with Ni’s business interests at KARMA Automotive. Meanwhile, Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s 2022 rejection of strict EV mandates shows a stark contrast in priorities, favoring Virginia’s workers over foreign agendas.
The $50,000 from Ni isn’t just a donation -- it’s a potential violation of Virginia’s ban on foreign contributions. A spokesman for Earle-Sears’ campaign didn’t hold back: “Taking $50,000 from someone with clear Chinese Communist Party ties tells us all we need to know.” Spanberger’s claim to stand against foreign threats rings hollow when her campaign coffers are filled with CCP-linked cash.
Spanberger’s 2020 interview advocating for a shift to electric vehicles now looks like a prelude to her financial ties with Ni. Her campaign’s silence on the controversy only deepens the suspicion. Virginians aren’t likely to forget this when they head to the polls.
This scandal isn’t just about money -- it’s about trust. Spanberger’s alignment with a CCP member’s interests, paired with her EV advocacy, paints a troubling picture of priorities. Virginia deserves leaders who put the Commonwealth first, not foreign tycoons with Beijing’s blessing.
