Lily Mei

Lily Mei
Official portrait
Lily Mei
Birthplace	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Known for	First female and first Asian American mayor of Fremont, California
Education	Drexel University
Children	2

Lily Mei is an American politician who served as the mayor of Fremont, California, from December 2016 to December 2024. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Mei made history in November 2016 when she became the first woman and the first Asian American elected to serve as Fremont's mayor, a milestone in a city where Asian Americans constitute a significant portion of the population. Before becoming mayor, she served on the Fremont City Council from 2014 to 2016 and prior to that served as a trustee for the Fremont Unified School District. During her tenure as mayor, Mei oversaw governance of one of the largest cities in the San Francisco Bay Area and was recognized for her broad experience in local elected office. In 2021, she announced a bid for California State Senate District 10 but was unsuccessful in the 2022 general election. Her time in office was also marked by controversies, including disputes with local Democratic Party officials and challenges arising during the George Floyd protests of 2020.

Early Life

Lily Mei was born in Chicago, Illinois. Her background as the child of immigrants has been a recurring theme in her public life and political career. In a 2025 interview, Mei discussed her family's refugee experience and its influence on her approach to governance and resilience.

Mei eventually settled in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she became a resident of Fremont, California, and raised her family. She has two children.

Education

Lily Mei attended Drexel University, a private research university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Details regarding her specific degree and field of study have not been extensively documented in available public sources.

Career

Fremont Unified School District

Before entering municipal politics, Mei served as a trustee for the Fremont Unified School District. According to The Mercury News, she held this position for six years, which provided her with foundational experience in public education policy and local governance. Her service on the school board established her as a figure in Fremont's civic life and laid the groundwork for her subsequent campaigns for city office.

Fremont City Council (2014–2016)

Mei was elected to the Fremont City Council and served from 2014 to 2016. Her time on the council allowed her to engage with a broader range of municipal issues, including land use, public safety, and city budgeting. Her council experience, combined with her years on the school board, gave her what The Mercury News editorial board later described as "the broadest elective-office experience" among candidates in the region.

Mayor of Fremont (2016–2024)

2016 Election

In the November 2016 election, Mei ran for mayor of Fremont against the city's incumbent vice mayor. The race drew attention as a competitive contest between two established local officials. The East Bay Times covered the race extensively, noting the policy differences between the candidates and the significance of the contest for Fremont's future direction.

Mei won the election, succeeding Bill Harrison as mayor and assuming office on December 13, 2016. Her victory was historic: she became the first woman and the first Asian American to serve as mayor of Fremont, a city with a population exceeding 200,000 and one of the most ethnically diverse communities in the Bay Area.

First Term

As mayor, Mei was involved in a range of policy areas affecting Fremont, including economic development, housing, transportation, and public safety. Her profile on the Joint Venture Silicon Valley website highlighted her role in leading one of the Bay Area's major cities.

George Floyd Protests (2020)

In June 2020, during the nationwide George Floyd protests, hundreds of demonstrators marched in Fremont. More than 300 people participated in a 2-mile walk from Washington High School to the Fremont Police Department headquarters on June 4, 2020. During the demonstration, Mei drew attention and criticism for her refusal to kneel alongside protesters, a gesture that had become symbolic during the movement. Mei subsequently addressed her decision publicly.

The protests continued beyond the initial march. In July 2020, protesters gathered outside Mei's home, calling for cuts to the Fremont police budget, reflecting a broader national debate about police funding and reform that was occurring in cities across the United States.

Re-election

Mei won a second term as mayor. CBS News reported on her re-election victory, confirming her continued service in the role.

Relationship with Democratic Party

In November 2021, the Democratic Party of Alameda County deemed Mei "anti-LGBTQIA+" under a recent bylaws change adopted by the local party organization. The Bay Area Reporter reported that Mei was the first person to receive this designation under the new policy. The designation reflected tensions between Mei and segments of the local Democratic establishment over LGBTQ policy issues.

2022 State Senate Campaign

Announcement and Primary

On June 2, 2021, The Mercury News reported that Mei had officially announced her candidacy for California State Senate District 10, the seat held by incumbent Senator Bob Wieckowski, who was term-limited. The district encompassed parts of the East Bay, including Fremont and surrounding communities.

In April 2022, The Mercury News editorial board endorsed Mei's candidacy, writing that she was the "best replacement for Sen. Wieckowski" and citing her broad experience in elected office, which included six years as a Fremont Unified School District trustee, service on the Fremont City Council, and her tenure as mayor.

Campaign Finance

The District 10 State Senate race became one of the most expensive legislative contests in California during the 2022 election cycle. The Mercury News reported that significant amounts of money from labor organizations and developers flowed into the race. By November 2022, total spending in the race exceeded $7.7 million, making it one of the costliest state legislative contests in the region. CalMatters also highlighted the race as an example of the growing role of industry and special-interest campaign finance in California's legislative elections.

CalMatters identified the District 10 contest as one of the most competitive state senate races in California during the 2022 cycle.

Controversies During Campaign

The campaign was accompanied by significant controversy. In September 2022, the East Bay Insiders newsletter reported that Mei had texted personal photographs to an East Bay official, a story that received attention during the final months of the campaign.

In December 2022, the East Bay Insiders newsletter further reported on a lawsuit that alleged Mei had told police she was blackmailed and extorted by an unnamed individual in connection with personal photographs she had sent to an Alameda County official.

General Election Result

Mei was unsuccessful in the November 2022 general election for the District 10 State Senate seat. According to results tracked by USA Today, another candidate prevailed in the contest.

End of Mayoral Tenure

Following her unsuccessful state senate bid, Mei continued to serve as mayor of Fremont. She left office on December 10, 2024, and was succeeded by Raj Salwan.

Post-Mayoral Activities

After leaving office, Mei engaged in public discussions about her experience in government. In June 2025, she appeared on the Good Government Show podcast, where she discussed topics including resilience, the refugee experience, and her time leading Fremont, which has been recognized in surveys as one of the happiest cities in the United States.

Personal Life

Mei is a resident of Fremont, California, and has two children. In June 2023, the East Bay Insiders newsletter reported that Mei's divorce had been finalized earlier that year.

Mei has spoken publicly about her family's immigrant and refugee background, which she has described as formative in shaping her approach to public service and community engagement.

Recognition

Mei's election as mayor of Fremont in 2016 was recognized as a historic milestone, as she became the first woman and first Asian American to hold the office in a city that is one of the most populous and diverse in the San Francisco Bay Area.

In April 2022, The Mercury News editorial board endorsed her state senate candidacy, praising her extensive record in local elected office and describing her as the candidate with the broadest experience in the District 10 race.

Her profile was featured by Joint Venture Silicon Valley, a regional organization focused on economic development and civic leadership in the greater Silicon Valley area.