Rep. Doris Matsui Defends Seat Against Challenger Mai Vang

Rep. Doris Matsui successfully defended a challenge from fellow Democrat Mai Vang to continue representing California’s 7th Congressional District.

On Tuesday afternoon, The Associated Press called the race for Matsui, defeating Vang, a Sacramento City Council member whose campaign advocated for a fresh wave of Democratic leadership.

At 82 years old, Matsui first entered the House of Representatives in 2005 to fill the seat of her late husband, Robert Matsui, who had represented the district in Congress beginning in 1979. She ran on her congressional experience and record of delivering federal funding for projects in the district, lending her campaign more than $5 million this cycle.

“The votes have been counted and voters have spoken,” Matsui said in a statement. “I believe their mandate was clear: They want someone who shows up to work every day, seeks common ground, and who listens to their concerns. The voters of this new district chose the steady solutions I’ve delivered throughout my service as their representative. I promise to keep delivering for them.”

California US House District 7 election results | Matsui vs. Vang — KCRA 3

Vang, who is 41, was born to Hmong refugee parents and formerly sat on the Sacramento City Unified School District Board of Education, where her work included helping to set up the Sacramento Children’s Fund to aid youth impacted by trauma, poverty, and violence. The solidly Democratic district encompasses Sacramento, Elk Grove, Galt, Lodi, Placerville and El Dorado.

Proposition 50’s redistricting added conservative voters in the Sierra foothills to the district. Hoping to appeal to those constituents, Matsui criticized Vang for taking part in joint fundraising and making an appearance on left-wing streamer Hasan Piker’s show.

Matsui previously served as one of eight members of former President Clinton’s transition board and later served as deputy assistant to the president in the White House Office of Public Liaison.