![\"U.S.](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/3047_262102_JV_CADEM.jpg\" "\\"U.S.")
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U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui and Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang sit side by side following their debate on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at the California Democratic Party state convention in San Francisco.<\/p>\n
JOS\u00c9 LUIS VILLEGAS<\/p>\n
jvillegas@sacbee.com<\/p>\n
Sacramento Councilmember Mai Vang is blasting Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Sacramento, for uplifting their Republican opponent<\/a>, a candidate who has virtually no chance at winning the 7th District Congressional seat, on her website.<\/p>\n The scrutiny comes as Vang is attempting to unseat Matsui<\/a>, a pillar of Democratic establishment in the Sacramento region. While there are other candidates in the race, Vang is expected to be Matsui\u2019s toughest primary challenger since she first won the seat in 2004.<\/p>\n Among the other candidates is Zachariah Wooden, a Republican college student and the sole candidate featured on Matsui\u2019s website.<\/p>\n On the media page of Matsui\u2019s website<\/a>, Wooden is called a Republican candidate who has a \u201crecord of serving the community\u201d and fighting to advance President Donald Trump\u2019s policies. The page also highlights Wooden\u2019s endorsements with local GOP groups and his belief that local law enforcement should partner with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.<\/p>\n \u201cRepublican and Republican-leaning (no party preference) likely primary voters need to see, read and see on the go that Zachariah Wooden is the strongest Republican in the June 2 primary,\u201d the website states.<\/p>\n Matsui\u2019s campaign spokesperson Kevin Liao said Monday the website information is to contrast Matsui with some of the \u201cextreme Republican ideas\u201d proposed. Liao added Wooden is the only candidate featured on the website because he is \u201cfrom all accounts the most prominent Republican in the race.\u201d<\/p>\n The decision to feature Wooden, a Sacramento State student, is unique given that he is not viewed as a viable candidate for the seat. He does not have an active campaign website nor raised any money, according to the latest filings from the Federal Election Commission<\/a>.<\/p>\n Loading\u2026<\/p>\n Vang, in a news release, criticized Matsui for \u201copenly working to boost a MAGA Republican\u201d into the top two primary and avoiding \u201ca real fight with her Democratic challenger.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEstablishment politicians like Doris would rather see a Republican extremist in power than pass the torch to the next generation of leadership,\u201d Vang said in a written statement. \u201cThis is the kind of ugly, self-serving politics that turns people off from our democracy.<\/p>\n Vang\u2019s website has taken a different approach by highlighting what the campaign views as differences between her and Matsui. In one section, the website states one of its core goals in the closing weeks of the primary is to ensure voters see \u201cpurely negative messaging against the incumbent.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cCongresswoman Matsui, who voted to impeach Donald Trump twice, is clear-eyed about the threat MAGA Republicans like Zachariah Wooden pose to our community,\u201d said Matsui campaign strategist Roger Salazar in a written statement. \u201cWhile Mai Vang urges her supporters to attack Matsui, the congresswoman remains focused on what actually matters: Winning back the House majority to hold Trump and his supporters like Zachariah Wooden accountable.\u201d<\/p>\n Wooden, in a written statement, called Matsui\u2019s website description \u201cselective\u201d and an attempt by the incumbent \u201cto manipulate the field by emphasizing one narrow slice\u201d of his campaign.<\/p>\n \u201cShe would rather define the race on her terms than compare her record against the better alternative I\u2019m offering on issues like affordability, public safety, infrastructure and accountability,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The 7th District encompasses<\/a> El Dorado Hills and Placerville to the north to Lodi and Linden to the south. Other major areas in the district include Galt, Elk Grove and several capital region neighborhoods including Campus Commons, Oak Park, south Sacramento and the city\u2019s downtown core.<\/p>\n Proposition 50, a voter-approved initiative that redrew California\u2019s congressional boundaries to favor Democrats, eliminated West Sacramento, Lemon Hill, Florin, East Sacramento and Isleton from the district.<\/p>\n Related Stories from Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n