Doris Kazue Matsui ( ; née Okada; ; born September 25, 1944) is an American politician who has served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from since 2005. She succeeded her husband, Bob Matsui. The district, numbered as the 5th from 2005 to 2013 and the 6th from 2013 to 2023, is based in Sacramento.
She is a member of the House Energy and Commerce committee, where she serves as ranking member of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee.
Before her time in Congress, Matsui worked as a government affairs consultant and served as Deputy Assistant to the President in the Clinton Administration, where she worked with President Clinton to create the first White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in 1999.
Early life and career Doris Kazue Okada was born in the Poston War Relocation Center internment camp in Poston, Arizona, and grew up in Dinuba, in California's Central Valley. While attending the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned a B.A. in psychology, she met her husband. They had one child, Brian.
Doris Matsui was a volunteer on Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign. When he was elected, she served on his transition team. After his inauguration, Matsui was appointed deputy special assistant to the president and deputy director of public liaison, working under Alexis Herman. She served in the White House from 1993 to 1998. Clinton appointed Matsui to the board of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in September 2000. Later, she became a lobbyist in Washington, representing corporate clients until 2005, when she decided to run for Congress against a field of local Democrats.
U.S. House of Representatives
Tenure
Matsui's husband, Representative Bob Matsui, died from complications of myelodysplastic syndrome on , two months after being elected to a 14th term in what was then the 5th district. On January 9, 2005, the day after his funeral, Matsui told supporters she was running for his open seat. In the special election on March 8, 2005, she garnered 68% of the vote and was sworn in for the balance of her husband's term. Press reports said that Matsui won the election before the polls opened, as most votes in the election were absentee ballots, which she won overwhelmingly. Matsui was elected to a full term in 2006 and has been reelected continuously since then.
Matsui voted with President Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time in the 117th Congress, according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis.
Women's rights Matsui has voted to continue stem cell research. Matsui opposed the overturning of Roe v. Wade. She called the decision "devastating" and said she was "deeply heartbroken and angered" by it.
On March 8, 2021, on the second anniversary of the U.S. women's national soccer team's pay discrimination lawsuit, Matsui and Rosa DeLauro introduced the Give Our Athletes Level Salaries (GOALS) Act, to ensure the U.S. women's national soccer team was "paid fair and equitable wages compared to the U.S. Men's team". The GOALS Act threatens to cut federal funding for the 2026 World Cup if the U.S. Soccer Federation does not comply.
Energy and the environment Matsui supports American energy independence and desires that the U.S. run on at least 25% renewable energy by 2025. Matsui opposes the expansion of oil production, offshore drilling, and subsidies for oil and gas exploration. She voted to provide tax subsidies for investment in renewable, alternative sources of energy.
Foreign policy Matsui supports United States military and economic aid to Ukraine. Matsui has supported Israel’s right to exist and defend itself, but she has been critical of Benjamin Netanyahu and his government. Matsui supports a 2-state solution. While Matsui has supported military aid to Israel for most of her career, in July 2026 she voted for Thomas Massie’s amendment to cut US aid to Israel. Matsui does not recognize the Gaza Genocide. Matsui is critical of the Iran War.
LGBTQ+ rights Matsui was given a rating of 100% by the HRC in 2006. She opposes discrimination in the workplace and in schools based on sexual orientation. She supported the repeal of don't ask, don't tell and sought the reinstatement of gay soldiers who had been discharged from the military.
Gun control Matsui seeks to expand gun control and supports stricter regulations on gun purchases and sales. She supports banning large-scale purchases of ammunition and seeks to end the gun show loophole. Matsui supports firearms manufacturers being held responsible for product misuse cases and lawsuits.
Health care In a discussion about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Matsui said that as "more Americans get to know and understand the law, and feel its effects in their lives, the less the public will want to see us take steps back to the broken health care system we have experienced for decades in this country." She has opposed many attempts to repeal, reduce, or privatize Medicare or Medicaid. In addition, Matsui has sought to expand medical coverage to children and the mentally ill. She voted against patients being denied treatment for non-emergency issues without a Medicare copay.
Taxes and pensions Matsui supports a progressive tax system and seeks to shut down offshore loopholes for business. She voted against continuing capital gains and dividend tax breaks. She supports extending AMT exemptions which benefit higher-income taxpayers in states like California with high state income taxes.
Matsui favors continuing Social Security as it is now, and has opposed moves to privatize it or allow citizens the option to have alternative retirement funds. She also opposes raising the retirement age.
Committee assignments For the 119th Congress: Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology (Ranking Member) Subcommittee on Energy
Caucuses and other memberships Junior League of Sacramento, CA Congressional Arts Caucus Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), Co-Chair Congressional Food Allergy Research Caucus, Co-Chair Rare Disease Caucus, Co-Chair Congressional High-Tech Caucus, Co-Chair Congressional Spectrum Caucus, Co-Chair National Service Congressional Caucus, Co-Chair Congressional Caucus to Cure Blood Cancers and Other Blood Disorders, Co-Chair House Democratic Caucus Task Force on Aging and Families, Co-Chair Smithsonian Board of Regents Congressional Mental Health Caucus Democratic Women's Caucus Congressional Equality Caucus Gun Violence Prevention Task Force
Personal life Matsui has one son. She has two grandchildren. On April 11, 2020, Matsui married AES Corporation co-founder and billionaire Roger Sant.
Electoral history
+ Year Office Party Primary General Result Swing . Total % . Total % . 2005 U.S. House 5th Democratic 56,175 67.65% 1st Hold 2006 52,951 100.0% 1st 105,676 70.80% 1st HoldPrimary election:
General election: 2008 51,006 100.0% 1st 164,242 74.27% 1st HoldPrimary election:
General election: 2010 56,762 100.0% 1st 124,220 72.05% 1st HoldPrimary election:
General election: 2012 6th 67,174 71.40% 1st 160,667 75.05% 1st HoldPrimary election:
General election: 2014 62,640 73.60% 1st 97,008 72.69% 1st HoldPrimary election:
General election: 2016 99,599 70.38% 1st 177,565 75.43% 1st HoldPrimary election:
General election: 2018 99,789 87.85% 1st 162,411 80.43% 1st HoldPrimary election:
General election: 2020 119,408 70.19% 1st 229,648 73.34% 1st HoldPrimary election:
General election: 2022 7th 94,896 63.19% 1st 150,618 68.26% 1st HoldPrimary election:
General election: 2024 89,485 56.46% 1st 197,429 66.75% 1st HoldPrimary election:
General election: 2026 61,114 29.09% 2nd Primary election: Source: Secretary of State of California Statewide Election Results
See also List of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans in the United States Congress Women in the United States House of Representatives
References Sources "Who's Who in President-elect Clinton's transition team". The Washington Post. November 13, 1992. A25.
Footnotes
External links
Congresswoman Doris Matsui official U.S. House website Doris Matsui for Congress campaign website