Matsui, Vang clash over experience, health care and military spending in Sacramento debate
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Rep. Doris Matsui and Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang drew contrasts over their experience, health care policy and military spending during a debate Thursday night in Sacramento’s Elmhurst neighborhood.
The debate between the two Democrats drew a packed audience of voters from California’s 7th Congressional District. The candidates also discussed affordable housing and Social Security.
One of the sharpest exchanges centered on whether Vang has enough experience to replace Matsui, a longtime member of Congress.
“I’m walking in with 10 years of governing experience, 20 years of policy advocacy experience,” Vang said. “When Doris Matsui stepped into that, she had no governance experience. We start somewhere, and I’m walking in with that experience.”
Matsui argued that effectiveness in Congress depends on relationships, institutional knowledge and an understanding of the legislative process.
“This is not a position where you inherit committees,” Matsui said. “You have to fight for it. It’s very difficult to get on the committees that you want to get on. You have to have relationships. You have to understand the process.”
The exchange became more pointed when Vang compared her qualifications with those of the late Rep. Bob Matsui, Doris Matsui’s husband and predecessor.
“I am older than Bob Matsui when he ran for Congress, and I have more governing experience than the congresswoman when she first started,” Vang said.
Matsui responded by citing her six years of work in the White House.
“That is probably the best experience you can get as far as Washington goes,” Matsui said. “And don’t bring Bob Matsui into this discussion. We are talking about the race now.”
Candidates differ on military policy
The candidates also disagreed over war powers and military spending.
Vang described herself as the anti-war candidate and called for redirecting federal money from overseas conflicts to domestic programs.
“We spend trillions of dollars on wars, and what we need to be doing is spending our tax dollars here, right at home, on systems of care, on education, on health care,” Vang said.
Matsui said members of Congress have used hearings and the War Powers Resolution to scrutinize the Trump administration but argued that Democrats need control of the House to exercise greater authority.
“We hold them accountable as much as we can, and we have hearings,” Matsui said. “But you know what? We do need our gavels. We need to be able to have the power to do this.”
Health care highlights policy divide
Health care marked another clear difference between the candidates.
Matsui said she supports universal coverage but views Medicare for All as one of several possible approaches. She said lawmakers must consider the cost of a single-payer system and examine models used in countries such as Canada and the United Kingdom.
“Medicare for All is not a panacea,” Matsui said. “We have not studied it enough. Single payer is an option here. We can do it, but we have to think about what it does for our budgets.”
Vang supports Medicare for All and said the current system is too expensive and fails to provide adequate access to care.
“Our current health system is broken,” Vang said. “We live in the richest state and the richest country in the world, yet we can’t provide health care for our residents.”
The candidates found common ground on Social Security, with both saying benefits should be protected and the program should remain fully funded.
Ballots for the November election are expected to begin going out in about five weeks.
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