California Democratic gubernatorial nominee Xavier Becerra is rejecting and returning a $20,000 donation from the son of a wealthy Chinese developer who is a trustee of a university with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the Daily Mail has learned.

The decision to refund the money that was given to his gubernatorial campaign last month comes after a Daily Mail investigation exposed the political contribution from Alex Xu, who appears to reside in California and Canada and is the CEO of Lotusland Investment Holdings.

Alex and his father, Yiming Xu, are developing the massive 23,000-acre Guenoc Valley Project on the border of Napa and Lake counties, a multi-million dollar venture that Becerra previously blocked while serving as California's attorney general.

In early 2021, during his tenure as California Attorney General, Becerra intervened in environmental litigation against the Guenoc Valley development, citing concerns over wildfire risks in high-hazard areas. 

That intervention reportedly contributed to legal delays that stalled the project's timeline several years.

A spokesperson for the Becerra campaign noted Wednesday evening that they did 'not have a record of Alex attending any of our fundraising events' and that they 'refunded the contribution as of yesterday evening.' 

Lotusland's website says of the Guenoc Valley Project: 'With approvals in place, Lotusland will begin site preparation and infrastructure work in early 2026, followed by phased construction of hospitality and residential components.

'Throughout the process, the company remains committed to sustainable design, continued community partnership, and a deep respect for the land that makes the Guenoc Valley Project possible.'

Yiming, who is described in business filings published on the Chinese stock market hub Sina Finance as 'a permanent citizen of Hong Kong,' is the founder and chairman of Lotusland Investment Limited, the holding company for his son's firm. 

He is also a key financial force behind the father-son's California venture – which could trigger backlash as lawmakers and communities have voiced rising concerns over foreign entities and Chinese nationals acquiring thousands of acres of land in the United States.

A Daily Mail review of past business records reveals that Yiming has had a financial stake in dozens of Chinese companies going back decades, including a 'broad business portfolio, covering real estate development, department stores, culture and education, property services, tourism, and other fields.'