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The 7th Congressional District of California in the U.S. House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
The Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n
Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang<\/a> and Rep. Doris Matsui<\/a> came from humble, difficult beginnings before rising to their respective political leadership roles in Sacramento. Vang\u2019s parents came to Sacramento from Laos,<\/a> fleeing a country ravaged by war and violence. Matsui was born in an Arizona internment camp during World War II, starting life as an enemy of the state.<\/p>\n Vang, 41, and Matsui, 81, now face one another in a historic race for Congress in California\u2019s 7th District<\/a>. Matsui is seeking her 13th election to the House of Representatives. She faces her first serious challenger from a fellow Democrat in Vang, a member of the Sacramento City Council since 2020. This race also includes Democrats Enayat Nazhat and Robby Morin, and Republicans Zachariah Wooden and Ralph Nwobi.<\/p>\n Matsui declined requests by The Bee<\/a> to meet with Vang and the Editorial Board (all our endorsement meetings with candidates \u2014 with the exception of the governor\u2019s race \u2014 were conducted in groups). This disqualified<\/a> Matsui from consideration for an endorsement.<\/p>\n It is sadly a reflection of how two remarkable women who began their lives in similar ways have evolved so differently.<\/p>\n Mai Vang embodies today\u2019s Sacramento. Doris Matsui does not.<\/p>\n The Bee endorses Vang for a much-needed and historic changing of the guard for Sacramento in Washington.<\/p>\n Matsui is married to a multimillionaire who co-founded a Virginia-based power company. She will be 82 come the November election and is sadly losing her connection to her roots<\/a>. She has chosen to distance herself from voters she is supposed to serve. Vang is capable of representing the needs of working class Sacramento families struggling to make ends meet because she is one herself.<\/p>\n Vang has to look no further than her checkbook to know the challenges of these economic times. The eldest of 16 children, Vang has yet to pay off her student loans. Her husband works extra shifts. California\u2019s affordability crisis isn\u2019t some distant problem to Mai Vang. She lives it every single day.<\/p>\n For voters who want a new generation of Democrats in Washington with fire and conviction, Vang is that candidate. On the city council, she was one of two members (the other was former Councilmember Katie Valenzuela) who challenged then-City Manager Howard Chan, who had grown too powerful. She has championed youth causes, particularly greater representation in city government.<\/p>\n Vang\u2019s central campaign message \u2014 \u201cto lower costs and fight for working families\u201d \u2014 isn\u2019t some abstract slogan. Back in Washington, Vang would be fighting for her own family\u2019s financial survival.<\/p>\n Vang is still in her learning years as an elected official. She has some growing to do as a leader. But she has shown the promise to be a committed and accesible representative. She could also break barriers. There is no Hmong American serving in the United States Congress. How extraordinary it would be if the first came from Sacramento.<\/p>\n Vang is truly a people\u2019s candidate. She has been a tireless advocate for her council district, seemingly everywhere and never afraid to engage a constituent in a discussion. Matsui\u2019s refusal to discuss Sacramento\u2019s future in a conversation with Vang and The Bee is not some exception to the rule. Matsui avoids public meetings requiring spontaneous exchanges. In one virtual \u201ctown hall\u201d in 2024, it was clear that both the questions and answers were scripted in advance. Matsui\u2019s eyes moved from left to right as she read the prepared responses.<\/p>\n This congressional district, significantly redrawn last November via the voter-approved Proposition 50, now covers the southern half of Sacramento and heads south to Lodi, west into West Sacramento and east to Placerville and El Dorado County. Much of this territory is even new to Matsui.<\/p>\n Vang will be tasked to champion the needs of new communities and neighborhoods, including the very different challenges facing rural residents. This district is not some haven of privilege. Most voters have much in common with Vang, and little with the incumbent.<\/p>\n This is not a moment in Washington where our leaders from Sacramento represent us from the shadows and rely on scripts. Matsui is in office to serve us, not the other way around.<\/p>\n Vang will never forget her humble beginnings, even if she manages to pay off that student debt while serving us in Washington.<\/p>\n BEHIND THE STORY MORE <\/a> What are editorials, and who writes them? <\/p>\n Editorials represent the collective views of the editorial boards of McClatchy Media\u2019s California opinion teams.<\/p>\n They do not reflect the individual opinions of board members or the views of reporters in the news sections of The Sacramento Bee and its sister publication, the San Luis Obispo Tribune. Reporters do not participate in editorial board deliberations or weigh in on board decisions.<\/p>\n In Sacramento, the board includes Executive Editor Chris Fusco, California Opinion Editor Marcos Breton, opinion writers Robin Epley, Tom Philp, LeBron Antonio Hill, Cathie Anderson and op-ed editor Hannah Holzer.<\/p>\n In San Luis Obispo, it includes Opinion Editor Stephanie Finucane.<\/p>\n We base our opinions on reporting by our colleagues in the news section, and our own reporting and interviews. Our members attend public meetings, call people and follow-up on story ideas from readers just as news reporters do.\u00a0<\/p>\n Read more by clicking the arrow in the upper right.<\/p>\n Tell us what you think <\/p>\n You may or may not agree with our perspective. We believe disagreement is healthy and necessary for a functioning democracy. If you would like to share your own views on events important to California, you may write a letter to the editor (150 words or less) using this form<\/a>, or email an op-ed (650-750 words) to opinion@sacbee.com<\/a>. Due to a high volume of submissions, we are not able to publish everything we receive.<\/p>\n This story was originally published April 22, 2026 at 5:00 AM.<\/p>\n Related Stories from Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n