At SEA-ACTION, we have been watching the race for Congressional District 7 in California with great interest, because one of our own – Mai Vang – is running against incumbent Doris Matsui. We congratulate Vang on coming in first place and will be competing with Matsui in November’s Mid-term election. We are excited by Sacramento City Council Vang’s progressive agenda to bring new energy and urgency to the Democratic Party and her lived experience as a Hmong daughter of a refugee family from Laos. If elected, Vang will be the second person elected to Congress from the Southeast Asian refugee community, following U.S. Representative Derek Tran. Notably, she will be the first Hmong woman elected to Congress. This is a historic moment for our collective community. 

Mai Vang is a lifelong advocate for Southeast Asian and underserved communities. As the eldest of 16 children, her leadership is rooted in family, community, and service. Elected in 2020 to represent Sacramento’s District 8, she has championed language access, youth empowerment, food justice, and equitable investment in historically overlooked neighborhoods. A former educator and community organizer, Vang co-founded Hmong Innovating Politics (HIP) to strengthen civic engagement and grassroots organizing among Southeast Asian communities. Her work reflects a deep commitment to uplifting immigrant and refugee communities, the working class, and those most disenfranchised. Her election is a testament to our community’s resilience and organizing power. 

We are particularly excited by how competitive this race truly is. Vang led Matsui by 1.7% – that is a mere 3,510 (as of June 9 with 95% of the vote counted). This primary election affirms that Southeast Asians are the margin of victory. We can make a decisive difference with our vote in places with razor thin margins. Imagine, come November, what a difference your vote can make. We get to decide who is best to fight for us and our communities in Congress.