A majority of the Sacramento City Council on Tuesday endorsed Rep. Doris Matsui’s re-election bid for Congress, supporting the incumbent over their fellow Councilmember Mai Vang, who is vying for the same seat.

The support by Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty and councilmembers Roger Dickinson, Eric Guerra, Rick Jennings, Lisa Kaplan and Phil Pluckebaum for the Sacramento Democrat comes as the 81-year-old seeks her 11th consecutive term in the House of Representatives representing the Sacramento region since 2005.

“Their support really does reflect the years that we spent building real partnership and a shared record of delivering for this community,” Matsui, flanked by each local elected official, said during a news conference held at the Nisei War Memorial downtown.

Vang, 40, launched her campaign to replace Matsui, presenting the highest-profile candidate to challenge the 20-year incumbent. Vang, who has represented south Sacramento since 2020, launched her bid on the heels of progressive candidates across the nation seeking to oust elected representatives who have served into their sunset years.

She rebuffed in a statement the idea that voters cast their choice based on “who the political establishment endorses.”

“They want leaders who will fight Trump and the status quo, bring down the cost of living, and protect our immigrant neighbors,” she said in the statement. “That’s the campaign we’re running — powered by young people, union workers and everyday people, not politicians and corporate PACs.”

Vice Mayor Karina Talamantes and Councilmember Caity Maple, both of whom recently announced their re-election bids for City Council, had not endorsed a candidate as of Tuesday. They did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Matsui was elected after her husband, Bob Matsui, died. He represented Northern California districts, including portions of Sacramento County, from 1979 until his death in 2005.

McCarty, in a statement, cited Matsui’s ability to secure federal funding for projects such as a $300 million infrastructure repair for the I Street bridge that connects West Sacramento to downtown’s Railyards. He called Matsui Sacramento’s “Teddy Roosevelt,” in reference to how she embodies the 26th president’s common refrain to “walk softly and carry a big stick.”

“She’s not going to get up and yell ... She’s a behind-the-scenes deliverer politician,” McCarty said.

Some of the other council members cited Matsui’s ability to build coalitions and secure funding for flood protection measures. The Sacramento region is among the most flood-prone regions in the nation, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Matsui has far surpassed Vang in campaign financial totals. According to FEC filings, Matsui has just over $785,000 cash on hand and Vang collected about $199,000.

The Seventh District, represented by Matsui since January 2023, was redrawn under a voter-backed proposition that favors California Democrats in congressional elections. The initiative, Proposition 50, was Gov. Gavin Newsom’s response to President Donald Trump’s directive to Texas Republicans to redraw congressional seats to win more seats.

The redrawn district includes downtown Sacramento, Elk Grove, El Dorado Hills, Galt and Lodi.

The primary election is scheduled for June 2. The top two candidates will advance to the general election.

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