{"id":2799,"date":"2026-05-21T04:04:40","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T04:04:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandiegorelocationnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/21\/matsui-campaign-attacks-vang-over-previous-corporate-donations\/"},"modified":"2026-05-21T04:04:40","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T04:04:40","slug":"matsui-campaign-attacks-vang-over-previous-corporate-donations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandiegorelocationnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/21\/matsui-campaign-attacks-vang-over-previous-corporate-donations\/","title":{"rendered":"Matsui campaign attacks Vang over previous corporate donations"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Rep. Doris Matsui\u2019s campaign, funded for years by corporate donations, is criticizing Sacramento Councilmember Mai Vang for previously taking small amounts of corporate money before pledging to reject such contributions in her congressional race.<\/p>\n

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The criticism is the latest in a series of jabs exchanged between the two campaigns as the primary election nears. Vang is attempting to unseat Matsui in California\u2019s 7th Congressional District, which includes Sacramento\u2019s downtown core. Matsui has held the seat for more than 20 years with little serious opposition.<\/p>\n

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In a news release this week, Matsui\u2019s campaign highlighted that Vang accepted tens of thousands of dollars in corporate donations during her city council campaigns. Vang has repeatedly vowed not to accept money from corporate political action committees in her congressional bid, framing it as a key distinction between herself and Matsui.<\/p>\n

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Most of Vang\u2019s past corporate donations came from small Sacramento-area businesses, according to The Ballot Book, a California campaign finance database. Other contributions included $400 from Pacific Gas & Electric and about $8,000 from local casinos.<\/p>\n

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\u201cFor a candidate purporting to be a \u2018grassroots\u2019 champion, this is hypocrisy at its worst,\u201d said Roger Salazar, a campaign strategist for Matsui.<\/p>\n

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Vang, who was not made available for an interview, sent a written statement in response to Matsui campaign\u2019s criticism. She called the scrutiny an attempt to \u201cchange the subject\u201d from news earlier this week that Matsui\u2019s website had elevated their \u201cMAGA Republican\u201d opponent \u2014 Sac State student Zachariah Wooden.<\/p>\n

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Vang also cited Matsui\u2019s history of accepting from corporate PACs. Matsui has accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars from corporate PACs during the current election cycle, according to the Federal Election Commission website.<\/p>\n

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