Why Sacramento Rep. Doris Matsui got a rare public rebuke from her supporters | Opinion
A dark green camping chair sits at the steps of the west entrance of the Capitol State building. Attached to it is a sign with a picture of longtime Sacramento Democratic Congresswoman Doris Matsui and a question at the bottom: “Where’s Doris?”
That question and many others were directed at Matsui at a constituent-led town hall on Friday, during the dinner hour, at the Capitol. It was a chance for the longtime congresswoman, who entered her 20th year serving Sacramento and surrounding areas, to hear voter frustrations amid an already tumultuous second term of President Donald Trump.
Though it was respectful, this was a highly unusual-if not unprecedented-event in Sacramento in that voters have not really gathered in appreciable numbers to do anything for Matsui but vote for her. She’s never faced a legitimate Democrat since she first won a special election to fill the seat of her late husband, Robert, almost 20 years ago to the day. People will grumble about Matsui behind her back. They’ll say they wish the 80-year-old legislator were more visible and less of an insider. But without a real challenger, she’s won elections with ease.
Now, with Trump in office, and the systems and departments of the federal government under assault from Trump’s administration, the political ground is shifting - even in Matsui safe, blue district. But here were more than 100 people, during the dinner hour, on a Friday sharing their fears, worries and even hopes.
Matsui should have been there to hear it, would do well to start listening and stop hiding from voters.
“We have basically liked you over the years,” town hall organizer Cynthia Shallit said on Friday. “You’ve been an okay congresswoman but now we need to take you up another level. We need you to really fight hard against what’s going hard.”
Shallit goes further, saying that Matsui should be held accountable for her lack of political courage.
“She’s also one of the reasons why we have this problem because she never really stood up against big money, big corporations, big oil. She’s never really fought.”
And boy will she need to fight against President Trump.
Does Matsui have enough energy for Trump?
The scene at the town hall on Friday didn’t project any “off with her head” energy. The atmosphere was filled with worry, vulnerability and passion. All but one person who took to the mic to address Matsui had voted for her in every election.
Matsui is a senior member on the Energy and Commerce Committee in the House of Representatives. Republicans have asked that committee to cut $880 billion over the next 10 years, with most of those cuts being from Medicaid, which is called Medi-Cal in California. There are 23 Democrats on this committee compared to 26 Republicans. Those gathered on Friday want the Dems to be louder. Slashing Medicaid hurt working families across the country.
Everyone from veterans to recently graduated young professionals attended Friday’s event and spoke up about their very real concerns.
The resounding message is that a change is needed. They want the Democrats to change, to fight for them.
Matsui has done a fine job of representing her constituents. But “fine” is not enough any more. These voters want more than a Washington insider. They want a vocal advocate pushing back against Trump.
Quite frankly, Matsui is acting like a politician who has been easily re-elected and never really challenged for 20 years. She doesn’t have a place to live in Sacramento. She lives in D.C. so why would any of her constituents think they would be able to meet with her?
But the responsibility of political representation falls on her voters as well. Election after election, voters placed their trust in her without her fully earning it.
The town hall on Friday highlighted a spark that was ignited once Trump began his second term in office. It could light the way for a new chapter in politics that isn’t business as usual.
“We need more AOCs and Bernie Sanders in Congress,” town hall organizer Francesca Wander said on Friday. “We need fewer complacent, quiet, timid representatives who do nothing more than stay in the halls of Congress and vote aye or nay on legislation.”
If Matsui decides to run again next year, now that she is in her 80s, it will be up to her constituents to decide whether the time has finally come to support someone besides her. A Matsui has represented Sacramento in Congress since 1978, for nearly 47 years.
The city is and should be grateful to an amazing family that overcame the shame of the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II to become pillars of our community.
But nothing lasts forever, and the modest event last Friday had the undeniable feeling of change.
This story was originally published March 26, 2025 at 4:00 AM.
