Sacramento voters packed out a neighborhood forum Thursday night to hear directly from six candidates running for California’s 7th Congressional District ahead of the June primary.
The event was organized by 10 Sacramento neighborhood associations and moderated by the League of Women Voters. It drew more than 300 people and attracted more viewers via online streams.
The forum featured incumbent Congresswoman Doris Matsui, who has represented the region since 2005. She was joined by five challengers seeking to unseat her. Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang, Democrats Robert Morin and Enayat Nazhat, and Republicans Ralph Nwobi and Zachariah Wooden.
While all candidates participated, much of the focus centered on the contrast between Matsui and Vang, particularly on healthcare, campaign funding and the role of money in politics.
Vang took her opportunity on the stage to describe herself as the more progressive and grassroots-powered challenger. She drew sharp distinctions on both policy and funding sources from her opponent, Matsui.
“Yes, we’re both Democrats, but there are clear contrasts in terms of who we are, our values, and also where we get money from,” Vang said. “I don’t take any corporate PAC money. Doris Matsui does.”
In Matsui’s previous campaign, her 2024 run for office, she collected nearly $872,000 from PACs, accounting for about 70% of her total contributions. Only around 2% of her funding came from small-dollar donations under $200.
For this 2026 campaign, Federal filings show Matsui has raised around $700,000 and Vang has raised about $285,000. All other participating candidates trail in fundraising so far.
Vang questioned whether Matsui is in touch with an average person’s day-to-day struggles.
“Doris Matsui is a multi-millionaire married to a billionaire, and she doesn’t understand the day to day struggles of our working families,” she said.
Matsui emphasized her role in securing federal resources and working within Congress to advance policy during a politically divided time.
“I don’t like the big money in politics,” Matsui said. “I’ve always focused on delivering for this community, and that’s what I intend to keep doing.”
Vang argued that elected leaders should move faster on issues affecting working families.
“I support Medicare for all. She does not,” Vang said. “Doris Matsui does not because she takes money from Big Pharma and health insurance companies.”
Matsui pushed back with a broader approach to expanding healthcare access.
“I’m not averse to Medicare for all, but there are other pathways there too,” Matsui said. “And I think we have to examine them, but we really need to understand that we have to have national health care for everyone.
The other candidates on stage used the forum to introduce themselves, outline different priorities, and differentiate themselves from the incumbent.
Republican candidate Wooden framed his run around the need for a generational change.
“I’m not running to represent just one group,” Wooden said. “I’m running to represent every generation.”
Morin and Nazhat, both Democrats, focused on issues like affordability and government accountability, while Republican candidates Nwobi and Wooden offered contrasting views on federal spending and the role of government.
Attendees listen during the congressional candidate forum at the Coloma Community Center in Sacramento on April 2, 2026.Tony Rodriguez/CapRadio
Alan Lofaso lives in Sacramento and attended the event to see the candidates up close and personal.
“I do think there was a very clear contrast between Doris Matsui and Mai Vang,” he said. “I will say I’m an undecided voter. I’m still taking it in. I understand what my choice is. I just haven’t decided where to go yet.”
Lofaso said he sees the two as the serious contenders in the race as of now.
“I’m a Democrat, and this is a Democratic district, so it feels like a race between Mai Vang and Doris Matsui,” he said. “I do feel for the incumbent, since a lot of the criticism was directed at her.”
Many in the crowd cheered for both Vang and Matsui during the panel. He added that Vang appears to be gaining traction in the race.
“I think she’s already giving her a run for her money,” Lofaso said.
Under California’s primary voting rules, all of the candidates appear on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation. The top two will continue to the general November election. The primary takes place in June.
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