Kevin Kiley, Doris Matsui suddenly show up as reelection challenges mount
Before facing political extinction, Kiley and Matsui channeled Nipper when asked about things like town hall meetings
Almost every elected official shares this trait, whether liberal or conservative, Republican or Democrat. When faced with a legitimate, threatening reelection, they suddenly show up in ways previously unimaginable.
In the Sacramento region, no two under-threat incumbents demonstrate this truism more than U.S. representatives Doris Matsui and Kevin Kiley. Although they have different lengths of service in Congress and are on opposite sides of the political spectrum, they both face electoral extinction.
Moderate Democrat Matsui is challenged by fellow Democrat and progressive Mai Vang. Kiley, although officially an independent, remains a MAGA loyalist and faces a challenge from Democrat Dr. Richard Pan, a challenge brought on by Proposition 50 Congressional redistricting.
Not surprisingly, Matsui's face has been all over Elk Grove, Galt, and Lodi since Vang announced her challenge about a year ago. If you asked the long-serving congresswoman to find Elk Grove on a map, much less meet for a drink at Bob's Bar in Old Town Elk Grove, she'd probably have an RCA tilted-head dog-in-the-speaker look on her face.
Living in Washington, D.C. for almost 50 years will do that.
And, to be fair and balanced, as the Fox network claims, Kiley admitted he has never been to a SACOG meeting (see video below), even though it is a vital organization for regional planning. Faced with dim reelection prospects according to the a.) Kalshi prediction market; b.) Cook's Political Report; and c.) Sabato's University of Virginia's Crystal Ball, Kiley suddenly mugs for the cameras at Sacramento Regional Transit ribbon-cutting ceremonies and a SACOG meeting.
If Kiley and Matsui survive what is the political battle of their lives and return to Washington, DC, the question becomes this. Will they disappear into the Beltway's cocktail-fundraising circuit, or actually spend time in the district doing boring things like holding town halls, which both have avoided like Donald Trump avoids ethics?
