Mai Vang faces Matsui in Nov. 3 congressional race

Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang is running for the U.S. House of Representatives in California's 7th Congressional District. The Democrat faces Doris Matsui, also a Democrat, in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. Vang finished first in the June primary with about 31.2% of the vote compared to Matsui's 29.1%, according to the Sacramento Bee.

Asked why she is running, Vang said in our candidate questionnaire: "The system is rigged against working families. Corporate money and concentrated wealth have corrupted our government toward the establishment and well connected; meanwhile, families like yours and mine pay the price in rent, groceries, insurance and gas."

Candidate information

Party: Vang said in our questionnaire: "Democrat. I've been a registered Democrat my entire voting life, and I describe myself as a progressive Democrat."

Family: "I'm the daughter of Hmong refugees who fled the war in Laos and rebuilt their lives in South Sacramento. As the eldest of 16 children, I grew up fast and took on real responsibility at home … In November 2024 I married Omar Gonzalez, the son of Mexican immigrants. I'm a proud bonus mom to our two kids," Vang said in our questionnaire.

Education: "I'm a product of Sacramento's public schools and the first in my family to attend college. I earned bachelor's degrees in biology and sociology from the University of San Francisco, then dual master's degrees in public health and Asian American studies from UCLA," Vang said in our questionnaire.

Experience and public service

Vang described her work history in our questionnaire: "Sacramento City Councilmember, District 8 (2020 to present). Lecturer in Ethnic Studies at California State University, Sacramento, and a member of the California Faculty Association. I have also taught Asian American Studies at UC Davis."

She added: "Before joining the council, I was Executive Director of the Buck Scholars Association (2018 to 2020), a nonprofit that provides mentorship and college scholarships to high school students who lack resources. From 2014 to 2018 I was Community Affairs Director for then-Councilmember Larry Carr in District 8."

Vang also listed her elected offices: "Sacramento City Council, District 8: elected 2020, re-elected 2024, currently serving. Sacramento City Unified School District Board of Education, Area 5: 2016 to 2020."

On the issues

Top priority: Vang identified getting money out of government as her top issue. "I'll cosponsor a ban on members of Congress trading stocks, push to end dark money super PACs, and support a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United along with small-donor public financing of elections," she said in our questionnaire. "I already live by these rules. I take no corporate PAC money, and I won't trade stocks in Congress."

Affordability: On utility costs, Vang said in our questionnaire: "Utilities in our region are raising rates to power data centers, and working families are covering the difference … I'll end the tax giveaways for data center developers and require them to cover the rate increases their energy use causes."

Health care: Vang said in our questionnaire: "I'll be a relentless advocate for Medicare for All, so every American has quality, affordable care no matter their job, zip code or income. Along the way, I'll fight to eliminate medical debt, slash prescription costs by expanding Medicare's power to negotiate drug prices, and protect Social Security and Medicare from cuts."

Environment: On wildfire and energy, Vang said in our questionnaire: "In the foothills, climate change shows up as wildfire, smoke and canceled insurance policies. I'd fund forest health & wildfire prevention on federal lands, raise pay for the federal wildland firefighters who protect our communities, and create a federal backstop for fire insurance."