Vang Overtakes Matsui in Sacramento County as CA-07 Vote Count Continues
Under California's top-two primary system, the two candidates receiving the most votes advance to the November general election regardless of party affiliation
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang has moved into first place in the Sacramento County portion of California's 7th Congressional District, narrowing incumbent Rep. Doris Matsui's districtwide lead as ballot counting continues following Tuesday's primary election.
According to the latest unofficial results released Friday by the California Secretary of State, Matsui remained in first place districtwide with 42,991 votes, or 30.3 percent, while Vang had 39,999 votes, or 28.2 percent. Republican Zachariah Wooden was third with 32,350 votes, or 22.8 percent.
Thousands of ballots remain uncounted across the district, which includes portions of Sacramento, San Joaquin and El Dorado counties.
The newest tally showed Vang leading in Sacramento County, the district's largest and most Democratic-leaning county. County results showed Vang with 32,617 votes, or 35.88 percent, compared with Matsui's 29,949 votes, or 32.95 percent.
The latest count also indicated Wooden's share of the overall vote has declined as additional ballots have been processed. Earlier returns had placed the Republican candidate closer to contention for one of the district's two November runoff spots, but his percentage has slipped to 22.8 percent districtwide, leaving him nearly six points behind Vang.
In a statement released Friday, Vang said the latest results reflected the strength of her grassroots campaign.
"This is what people power looks like," Vang said. "We were outspent three to one — and we're still standing, because of the people. Every door we knocked, every conversation we had, every neighbor who wanted a new generation of leadership — it's showing up in these numbers."
Vang's campaign said the latest ballot drop moved her into first place in Sacramento County and brought her within approximately two percentage points of Matsui districtwide.
Matsui, who has represented the Sacramento-based district since winning a 2005 special election, continues to lead the overall race. As of Friday evening, her campaign had not issued a public statement regarding the latest vote tally update.
Under California's top-two primary system, the two candidates receiving the most votes advance to the November general election regardless of party affiliation.
Election officials are expected to continue counting vote-by-mail, provisional and other outstanding ballots for several weeks before results are certified in July.
