The Tale of Two Campaigns - The Upstart v. The Establishment
Vang has a substantially different message than Matsui, who is generally considered liberal, even though the term "establishment" is being hung like an albatross on her neck.
The campaigns being waged by incumbent Democratic Rep. Doris Matsui and Sacramento Councilmember Mai Vang could not be more different. An example of this was seen in a picture shared by an Elk Grove News reader of Ms. Matsui with establishment supporters, and one of several social media posts (see one posted today below) by Ms. Vang portraying herself as a candidate of the youth and people.
The content clearly identifies the establishment from the upstart of the top two candidates for California's 7th Congressional District.
The Democratic establishment candidate is incumbent Doris Matsui. A picture we received today shows Ms. Matsui with Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen and Councilmember Rod Brewer in a typical milquetoast pose at a fundraising event.
Most establishment-type Democrats are lining up with Matsui, who has represented the Sacramento area for over 20 years. From Singh-Allen and Brewer's perspective, as elected officials, it is always better to line up with the incumbent because they are in power and, as history has shown, most Congressional incumbents get reelected.
Ms. Vang, on the other hand, has regularly posted images and especially catchy videos on social media that appeal to younger voters, who she desperately needs to turn out if she is to defeat Matsui. But there is something else going on.
First, many of the videos show Vang participating in activities like running in a Thanksgiving Day fun run and generally showing high energy. This activity is a subtle way to remind voters that Matsui is in her 80s and Vang is 40 years her junior, without explicitly stating the age difference.
Also, Vang has a substantially different message than Matsui, who is generally considered liberal, even though the term "establishment" is being hung like an albatross on her neck. Taking a page from candidates like New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, Vang is talking about billionaires' undue influence and issues important to young, disillusioned voters.
Even though a viable Republican could enter the race and change the dynamics in the June 2026 California Primary Election, as it stands today, Matsui and Vang will remain the top two contenders. The Matsui-Vang showdown will be a test of establishment Democratic money and progressive Democratic organizational skills, tapping into discontent with the status quo.
