Congresswoman Doris Matsui will face a progressive challenger in June from within her own party. That challenger, Sacramento Councilmember Mai Vang, sits on the same city council that just endorsed her.
Six of Sacramento’s councilmembers, including Mayor Kevin McCarty, stood with the 81-year-old incumbent Matsui to announce their support for her re-election in California’s 7th District.
“I’m deeply grateful to stand here beside Mayor McCarty and the majority of the Sacramento City Council, who are lending their support to my re-election,” Matsui said. “I’d like to think that their support really does reflect the years that we spent building real partnership.”
At a press conference hosted by Matui’s office, McCarty and the other councilmembers shared why they chose to stand beside her. They pointed to the federal funding Matsui has brought to the region. They credited her with securing billions in federal funding for flood control and transit projects, including the Sacramento Regional Transit Downtown Streetcar Project.
In her two decades in office, Matsui has not faced a challenge from any elected official. Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang, who has represented the South Sacramento area on the council since 2020, will be the first to do so.
Vang declined an interview request regarding the endorsements made by her fellow councilmembers. In a written statement, she said her campaign is “powered by young people, union workers and everyday people, not politicians and corporate PACs.”
Those who appeared to support Matsui included Mayor Kevin McCarty and Councilmembers Roger Dickinson, Lisa Kaplan, Eric Guerra and Rick Jennings.
Councilmembers Karina Talamantes and Caity Maple did not attend the event. Neither responded to requests for interviews on the topic.
What the endorsements could signal
Sacramento State political science professor Wesley Hussey said endorsements from multiple city leaders for a candidate like Matsui can serve as a signal to voters. He says endorsements from other local elected leaders like this could be a strategy to capture voters who will now be reshaped by redistricting.
“When you have a big city like Sacramento and a congressional district that includes significant components of Sacramento, it can send a signal to voters who normally aren’t paying much attention,” Hussey said. “These political officials are endorsing this candidate or support this candidate.”
Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang, center in a yellow jacket, listens during a joint homelessness meeting, Oct. 28, 2025. Vang will be the first elected official to challenge Matsui for California’s 7th Congressional District.Ruth Finch/CapRadio
He said there is a practical reason for the councilmembers to support the establishment Democratic incumbent.
“It’s hard to imagine a city councilmember or even a local official or even our mayor of Sacramento wanting to go against an incumbent,” Hussey said.
Hussey said opposing a long-serving member of Congress could strain relationships these councilmembers rely on for federal coordination and funding.
“What if the challenger [Vang] fails? What if Matsui wins re-election?” Hussey said. “That can hurt the city. That can hurt access to things that they need federally. And it also damages that relationship.”
The public nature of Tuesday’s announcement, with multiple councilmembers publicly appearing to endorse Matsui together, also carries weight, he added.
“That’s a political statement,” Hussey said.
Still, Councilmember Roger Dickinson, who endorsed Matsui, said he does not expect their endorsement to disrupt the city council’s dynamic.
“I think it will not make a significant difference,” Dickinson said. “I work closely with Mai, and I expect that to continue. We’ve known each other for quite a long period of time.”
Dickinson said his endorsement is rooted in experience and institutional knowledge.
“You don’t just walk into Congress and make a difference,” he said. “You have to learn that institution. You have to learn how it works.”
Councilmember Lisa Kaplan echoed that sentiment, saying that while some voters may want to see a fresh face in the seat, time served matters.
“To actually understand Congress, you need to understand you don’t just get elected and you’re effective. It goes off of rank and leadership and time served in office. And every one of us who’s ever served an elected life knows that to get things [done], you need to have relationships.”
Hussey said the race highlights a divide within the Democratic Party between more progressive and more traditional candidates.
He compared Vang’s grassroots-funded approach to Matsui’s, noting that refusing PAC money can be appealing to voters but may also mean fewer campaign resources, which can limit how widely Vang’s message is heard.
The state primary election comes in June, and under California’s top-two system, the two top contenders, regardless of party, will advance to the November general election.
Hussey said two Democrats facing off adds another layer of uncertainty. If voters split between Matsui and Vang, a Republican challenger would be more competitive.
“If there’s one Republican running, they could easily make it to the top two,” he said.
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