Vang Vows to Keep Fighting for Working Families as Party Elites Break Own Rules to Back 21 Year Incumbent
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — This weekend, the California Democratic Party establishment broke its own rules in order to save the 21-year incumbent Rep. Doris Matsui from losing the party’s endorsement.
"Voters are demanding change and a new generation of leaders, but instead, the corporate funded political establishment put its thumb on the scales to protect the same failed status quo that got us to where we are now," said Vang. "We cannot count on career politicians who are funded by the same corporations donating to Donald Trump and working with ICE to save us from this administration.”
The Vang campaign formally challenged the endorsement before the party's review committee, arguing that the Speaker Emeritus showed up to a regional caucus meeting she wasn’t a delegate for and lobbied to back the incumbent against party rules. Party insiders voted to uphold the outcome — failing to adhere to its own rules.
"Status quo and seniority isn't going to save us. If it could, we wouldn't be in this moment," Vang said in her convention speech. "Do we want a party owned by corporations? A party that takes money from companies doing business with ICE? Or do we want a party that belongs to working people and fights unapologetically for our values?"
Vang's challenge highlights a crisis the party establishment refuses to confront: in Sacramento County, four out of every five newly registered voters since 2021 have chosen a party other than Democrat–especially among young, Latino, Black, and Asian American voters. The Democratic Party's favorability is at its lowest point in over 30 years (Gallup), congressional Democrats are at a record-low 18% approval (Quinnipiac), and even in California, six in ten voters view the party unfavorably while three in four say we need something new (PPIC). People are done with leaders who talk about change while cashing checks from billionaires. People want leaders who will stand up and fight.
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