Rep. Doris Matsui shredded by opponent Mai Vang for scheduling last-minute town-hall meeting
"After 10 months of the second Trump administration, Doris finally decided to have an in-person town hall," Vang said in her social media video.
The primary race for California's 7th Congressional District is a classic upstart challenging the establishment incumbent. In this case, Sacramento City Councilmember is challenging fellow Democratic Congresswoman Doris Matsui.
Matsui has represented Sacramento in Washington, DC, since 2005 and is firmly ensconced with the Democratic establishment. Vang and other Democrats have criticized Ms. Matsui for being complacent during the first months of President Donald Trump's second term.
Along with other silent Democratic establishment elected officials who are being criticized for not being strident and vocal in opposition to Trump's policies, Vang painted Matsui as out of touch with Sacramento-area constituents. Vang said this was validated by Matsui's hastily scheduled town hall meeting (see video below).
"After 10 months of the second Trump administration, Doris finally decided to have an in-person town hall," Vang said in her social media video. Vang said she was unable to attend the meeting due to other commitments.
"A one-day notice for a town hall is not how you do community outreach," she said. "Giving working families a few days' notice at least is important so they can adjust their calendar and be present with you to share their concerns."
Vang went on to say she reviewed Matsui's comments from the meeting and said, "They were the same out-of-touch talking points."
Vang also criticized Matsui for denying her privilege and accepting campaign contributions from corporate interests. As part of her campaign, Vang has relied chiefly on small individual donors and has eschewed corporate donations.
Since winning her seat in Congress in 2005 following the death of her husband, Robert Matsui, who served as the area's representative starting in 1979, Ms. Matsui has never faced a viable primary or general election challenger. Given the dissatisfaction many Democratic Party supporters have with their party for what they perceive as a feckless response to Trump's policies, many establishment Congress Members are facing stiff challenges from a more vocal and progressive wing of the Democratic Party.
A recording of Matsui's town hall meeting can also be viewed below.
Given this is Matsui's first in-person town hall meeting during Trump's second term, and Vang's open and pointed criticism will continue unabated through next June's primary election, depending on the circumstances of how and when the resolution of the federal shutdown is resolved, Matsui could be in for several politically difficult months.
