Matsui Leads Vang in District 7 Race

Incumbent Doris Matsui holds a 53.3% lead over Mai Vang with about 87% of votes counted.

Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Elections

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Doris Matsui held 53.3% of votes counted against Mai Vang's 46.7% in the District 7 House race as of Tuesday afternoon, with about 87% of votes counted. Matsui has maintained her lead in every results update since Election Day.

Why it matters

The race determines who represents a Sacramento-area congressional seat that Matsui has held since 2005, when she was elected to the seat her husband, Bob Matsui, held until his death. Matsui's campaign will not declare victory until the Associated Press calls the race.

With about 87% of votes counted, Matsui leads 53.3% to 46.7%, down from her 55.8% share earlier Tuesday. Vang would need roughly 75% of the remaining Sacramento County ballots to close the gap.

The players

Doris Matsui

Matsui is a Democratic congresswoman who has represented the seat since 2005 after succeeding her late husband, Bob Matsui.

Mai Vang

Vang is a teacher and Sacramento City Council member representing South Sacramento who is challenging Matsui in the race.

The details

Vang, a teacher and Sacramento City Council member representing South Sacramento, faced Matsui in a brutal debate in August. Vang has argued that voters have not had another choice in 21 years, while Matsui has served in Congress since 2005.

Election Day: Matsui began leading in results updates.
August: Vang and Matsui held a brutal debate.
Tuesday afternoon: Matsui held 53.3% with 87% of votes counted.
Last week: Democrats won majorities in both houses of Congress.

Political Context

The race follows a national pattern in which Democrats won majorities in both houses of Congress last week, while Democratic socialist Angela Gonzalez-Torres unseated incumbent U.S. Rep. Jimmy Gomez in Los Angeles. Vang's challenge reflects the tension between long-serving incumbents and newer progressive challengers within the party.

The outcome determines which candidate represents District 7 in Congress for the next term, affecting federal policy for residents across the district's counties. Until the Associated Press calls the race, the final result remains uncertain.

The takeaway

Close House races can shift over days as remaining ballots are counted, so readers should wait for official calls before drawing conclusions. The District 7 result will show whether the Matsui family's long hold on the seat holds in a challenging year.