Polling Opposites
Voters have a real choice between Matsui, Vang
By Jeff Harris
April 2026
Given the mayhem and dysfunction in Washington, congressional midterm elections take on extra significance.
In Sacramento County, the California 7th Congressional District finds incumbent Doris Matsui challenged by City Council Member Mai Vang. It’s the first time in 21 years Matsui meets a serious opponent.
I worked with both candidates during my time on City Council. The contrast between Matsui and Vang is stark. Voters get to choose between a dynastic, legendary figure in city politics or a relative newcomer from the Meadowview suburbs.
The Matsui family—Doris and her late husband Bob—has held public office since 1971. Bob Matsui was already in his fourth congressional term when Vang was born. He previously served on City Council.
Doris Matsui replaced her husband in Congress in 2005, after his death from a rare stem cell disorder.
While the Matsui name graces the U.S. Courthouse on I Street, the Robert T. Matsui Waterfront Park and one of the city’s alphabetically named alleys, Vang is trying to find her footing.
Vang served four years on the Sacramento City Unified school board, then advanced to City Council in 2020. Her list of accomplishments is brief.
Since joining the council, Vang has opposed adoption of city budgets and supported programs that contribute to deficits, such as the “Children’s Fund,” Office of Public Safety Accountability and costly project labor agreements.
Another consistency for Vang is her refusal to say the Pledge of Allegiance at meetings.
Vang can also be inconsistent. Four years ago, she supported the city’s purchase of 102 surplus acres on Meadowview Road for homeless housing. Within months, she abandoned the housing idea and proposed a soccer complex instead. The site remains empty.
In preparation for her run against Matsui, Vang sought an endorsement from the state Democratic Party. When Matsui won the endorsement, Vang challenged the decision and claimed the establishment was working against her.
A Democratic endorsement for Matsui was no surprise. Matsui’s 21 years in Congress highlight many accomplishments for her district, which encompasses most of the county’s southern half.
Matsui serves on the Congressional Committee on Energy and Commerce. She is a ranking subcommittee member on Communications and Technology.
She helped author the CHIPS and Science Act, an investment of $280 billion to boost semiconductor manufacturing, research and development.
To reduce Sacramento’s vulnerability to flooding, Matsui brought $10 billion in federal flood protection projects, including Folsom Dam improvements, levee and weir upgrades, and erosion repairs.
Matsui worked on the Affordable Care Act and the largest drug-pricing legislation in history, the Inflation Reduction Act. She secured transportation grants for the I Street Bridge and Sacramento International Airport.
Her critics say Matsui is aloof and doesn’t communicate with her constituency. Others note her age—she’s 81, though appears in good health.
For voters, the decision between Matsui and Vang may come down to something else: a desire for change, a rejection of traditional politics. Either way, the 7th District election offers a real choice.
Jeff Harris represented District 3 on the City Council from 2014 to 2022. He can be reached at cadence5371@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram: @insidesacramento.
