Chen Xinwu Elected Mayor of Chongqing

Chen Xinwu has been formally elected as Mayor of Chongqing, one of China’s four direct-administered municipalities, according to Xinhua News Agency. The election took place on August 19 during the 5th Session of the 6th Chongqing Municipal People’s Congress, which convened from August 18-19 with the mayoral election as its sole agenda item.

The election marks the formal confirmation of Chen’s position after he was appointed acting mayor on July 31, following a period of significant political upheaval in the southwestern megacity. Chongqing Daily confirmed the election result on the same day.

Background: A City in Transition

Chongqing, one of China’s four province-level municipalities alongside Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin, has experienced considerable political turbulence in recent months. Chen’s predecessor, Hu Henghua, was placed under investigation for suspected serious violations of Party discipline and national laws on March 20, 2026, by the Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), as China Daily reported. Hu, who had served as mayor since January 2022, was one of four full-ministerial-level officials investigated by anti-corruption authorities in 2026, according to SCMP.

The leadership vacuum deepened when Zhang Anjiang, Chongqing’s vice mayor and police chief, died on May 7 at age 55 after a sudden illness, as Caixin Global reported. Zhang was the city’s eighth police chief since Chongqing became a province-level municipality in 1997, and several of his predecessors were removed or convicted.

Chen Xinwu’s Career Path

Chen Xinwu, born in July 1968, is a veteran Chinese Communist Party official with extensive experience across Hubei Province and Chongqing. His career includes serving as Mayor of Shiyan in Hubei, Director of the Hubei Provincial Development and Reform Commission, and Hubei Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee member and Secretary-General.

Chen was transferred to Chongqing in July 2023 as a Standing Committee member and Municipal Party Committee Secretary-General. He was appointed Executive Deputy Mayor in May 2024 and elevated to Deputy Secretary of the Chongqing Municipal Party Committee in October 2025, as Beijing News reported. His appointment as acting mayor on July 31, 2026, was confirmed by Rulers.org.

A Sweeping Leadership Reshuffle

The August reshuffle filled six senior positions in Chongqing’s government, according to Caixin Global. Beyond Chen’s appointment as mayor, Tan Quan, a former assistant minister of public security, was appointed vice mayor and police chief, filling the vacancy left by Zhang Anjiang’s death. The reshuffle was approved by the municipal legislature on July 31.

The political crisis also touched other senior officials. Luo Lin, a Standing Committee member and Liangjiang New Area Party Secretary, was placed under investigation in April 2026. Party Secretary Yuan Jiajun has called for comprehensive political purification, emphasizing the need to “resolutely uphold the authority of the Party Central Committee” and “comprehensively and thoroughly eliminate the influence of poisonous elements,” as Lianhe Zaobao reported.

Historical Context and Significance

Chongqing has been a focal point of China’s anti-corruption campaign. The city’s history of political turbulence—from former Party Secretary Bo Xilai, convicted of corruption in 2013, to Sun Zhengcai, convicted in 2018—makes it a politically sensitive area. The formal election of Chen Xinwu represents an attempt to stabilize the political situation and restore normal governance.

The appointment of Tan Quan, who previously served as assistant minister of public security under Minister Wang Xiaohong, represents a significant change in the security apparatus, as Vision Times noted. The new leadership team faces the challenge of rebuilding public trust after multiple corruption scandals.

What’s Next

Chen Xinwu will need to lead Chongqing through a period of political recovery and address economic development priorities for the southwestern megacity. The city faces the dual challenge of restoring confidence in governance while maintaining its role as a major economic hub in western China. As the Wikipedia entry on the Chongqing Municipal People’s Government notes, the mayor serves under the secretary of the Chongqing Municipal Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, with Party Secretary Yuan Jiajun continuing to set the political direction.

The broader anti-corruption campaign may continue to affect Chongqing politics, and observers will be watching whether the new leadership can restore stability to one of China’s most politically significant municipalities.