Fan Xiaojiang (aka Elaine Fan), currently chief of staff for the New York City mayoral campaign of Scott Stringer, has also served as a top aide for Governor Kathy Hochul. Fan was Hochul’s Director of Asian Affairs from October 2021 to November 2023.
Fan’s father worked for the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Propaganda Department and as an editor for state media outlets. That is, he was a CCP propagandist—like his own father (“China Former top Hochul aide’s unearthed family connections to CCP raises alarm bells,” Fox News, June 5, 2025).
United Front
The Fox News story devotes a fair amount of space to the Party background of Fan’s father and grandfather. Children don’t necessarily follow in the ideological footsteps of their parents. But before joining state government, Fan (third from left above) spent a decade as a reporter for Ming Pao Daily News, which the Jamestown Foundation has described as “heavily influenced” by the Chinese government and in particular the Chinese Consulate in New York.
The China Brief editor for Jamestown Foundation, Arran Hope, told Fox News that Fan “appears to be actively involved in the party’s United Front system, which seeks to promote the party’s preferences and control both within and without the PRC. She has given speeches at events organized by the PRC Consulate in New York that celebrate United Front organizations in the city.
“These events call for promoting reunification with Taiwan as well as advocating for the ‘motherland’ and its interests. To have somebody whom PRC diplomats clearly view favorably in such a senior role in New York politics should be cause for concern.”
Potential vectors
Hudson Institute Fellow Michael Sobolik adds: “If Elaine Fan ever worked for CCP-controlled state media, she shouldn’t be welcome in U.S. electoral politics. If Scott Stringer lacks discernment to insulate a campaign from potential vectors of CCP influence, how can he protect New York City from that malign influence in public office?”
Also see:
National Review: Kathy Hochul’s Chinese Connection
StoptheCCP.org: China’s United Front Operatives in the United States: Not Even Nuisances?
Daily News: Scott Stringer’s campaign chief of staff posts misleading messages about ranked choice voting
