Mai Vang: Sacramento’s Progressive Candidate for Congress

First Sacramento DSA-led canvass for Mai Vang.

Mai Vang joins a growing group of progressive candidates rising in popularity to challenge the Democratic Party establishment. Running for the House of Representatives, District CA-07, she has generated excitement not only through her advocacy on Sacramento City Council but also through her populist message and refusal to accept corporate PAC money. Her policy platform aligns strongly with DSA which helped her receive a unanimous recommendation for endorsement from our Electoral Committee.

Mai has a history of organizing and advocacy within the immigrant and refugee communities. Her advocacy shows her stance is more than a play for votes. As a daughter of Hmong refugees, the immigrant community is more than just political, it is personal. While she was on the Sacramento City Unified School District Board, she passed a safe haven resolution, making schools a safe space for students, regardless of their immigration status. As a city councilwoman, Mai worked to designate Sacramento as a sanctuary city and has a strong stance against ICE, not only to abolish ICE but prosecute ICE for their actions against our immigrant communities.

Motivated to support a candidate actually aligning with progressive values rather than picking the "lesser of two evils", Sacramento DSA had some of the highest turnout to canvasses out of any other organizations in the area, and we members took on roles as field canvass leads for her campaign. In addition to the campaign specific canvasses, our Electoral Committee held DSA specific canvasses leading up to the primary.

As the polls showed Mai gaining ground in this race, the Democrat incumbent, Doris Matsui, started to boost the Republican candidate knowing she would have an easier time against a conservative rather than a progressive. The week of the primary election was a rollercoaster for most of us. Election night results favored Doris with Mai Vang and the Republican frontrunner fighting for the number two spot. After a few days and the mail in vote count, Mai jumped ahead of Doris and sealed her spot in the general election.

Mai's surge in popularity has rattled Doris Matsui and pushed Doris Matsui into showing up to more public events, holding town halls for the first time in years, and voting in a more "progressive" manner. (She was one of the 104 House members who recently voted to cut aid to Israel, going against her previous votes to continue aiding the genocide.) Unfortunately for Doris Matsui, we believe this is too little too late. While canvassing for Mai, people have expressed support for her because of refusal to take corporate PAC money, her advocacy for the immigrant community, and a desire for change within the Democratic Party. Even previous Doris Matsui supporters I've spoken with have expressed a desire for change. Mai's strong performance along with Sacramento DSA's endorsement has increased DSA's name recognition locally, and new members have joined DSA in part because of our endorsement and seeing the success of DSA backed candidates in recent primaries.

If elected, Mai would be the first Hmong elected to Congress and would add to the growing number of progressive elected officials. We will continue to work to make that a reality.

If you would like to donate to Mai Vang’s campaign, please do so here.