Doris Matsui

Doris Matsui currently serves the 5th Congressional district of California

Doris Okada Matsui, a Democrat, has represented the Fifth Congressional District of California in the U. S. House of Representatives since 2005. Matsui was elected in a March 2005 special election after her husband, Bob Matsui, died in office in January 2005. Bob Matsui had represented the district for 26 years. (map)

Record and controversies

Iraq War

Matsui voted against the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that started the Iraq War.

For more information see the chart of U.S. House of Representatives votes on the Iraq War.

Environmental record

For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

John Huang fundraising scandal

On December 28, 1996, the lead story on the front-page of The New York Times reported Matsui had been active in John Huang's efforts, called the Asian-Pacific American Working Group, to raise campaign donations from Asian Americans. This activity would have been illegal because of her White House position. While Matsui was friends with Huang, the administration denied she played any role in fund-raising and the Times, three years later, admitted it had made a mistake.

Norman Hsu campaign donations

Upon hearing revelations of Norman Hsu's fugitive status, Matsui decided divest the $7,500 she received in contributions.

Biography

Doris Matsui was born September 25, 1944 in a Japanese Internment Camp at Poston, Arizona and grew up in Dinuba, in California's Central Valley. She earned a B.A. in psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, where she met her husband Bob Matsui.

The Matsuis were early supporters of Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton's presidential campaign. When Clinton was elected, Doris Matsui served on his transition team. Following the inauguration, she 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.

After leaving government, Matsui was director of government relations for the law firm Colleen, Shannon, Scott, stepping down in 2005 to take her seat in Congress. President Clinton appointed her to the board of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in September 2000. Matsui also served on the boards of KVIE-TV and People for the American Way.

Matsui's husband, Bob, died from complications of myelodysplastic syndrome on January 1, 2005. With the support of national Democratic Party leaders, Doris Matsui quickly organized to buttonhole potential campaign contributors and clear the field of any serious rivals for the Democratic safe seat. She ultimately raised 27 times the campaign funds of her closest competitor. She was accused of improper land deals during the campaign, but with no strong opposition she won the March 8, 2005, special election with 71% of the vote. [1]

2006 elections

In 2006, the Republicans nominated Claire Yan, and the Green Party nominated Jeffrey Kravitz to face Matsui in her November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) [2] Matsui retained her seat.

2008 elections

This information was gathered by volunteer researchers as part of the Superdelegate Transparency Project on the superdelegates for the 2008 Democratic presidential primary. For more info see the California superdelegate tracker or visit the STP homepage.

Before Hillary Clinton conceded the race, Doris Matsui, as a superdelegate, had endorsed her for President.

For more information and sources, see the state page for this superdelegate linked to in the blue box above.

Committees and Affiliations

Committees

• House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
  • Subcommittee on Aviation
  • Subcommitee on Highways, Transit & Pipelines
• House Committee on Rules

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

• House Committee on Rules
• Trustee of the Meridian International Center

More Background Data

Wikipedia also has an article on Doris Matsui. This article may use content from the Wikipedia article under the terms of the GFDL.

Contact

DC Office:
2310 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-7163
Fax: 202-225-0566
Web Email
Website

District Office- Sacramento:
12-600 Federal Courthouse
501 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-498-5600
Fax: 916-444-6117

Articles and resources

• Official website
• Campaign website
• Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

References

• "Aide's role in raising cash denied". The Buffalo News. December 29, 1996. A1.
• "Editor's Note". The New York Times. March 22, 1999. A2.
• "Matsui foes critical of dealings". The Sacramento Bee. February 8, 2005.
• Thomas Oliphant. "Another victim is caught in the scandal machine." Boston Globe. September 16, 1997. A17.
• "Who's Who in President-elect Clinton's transition team". The Washington Post. November 13, 1992. A25.
• Tim Weiner and David E. Sanger. "Democrats Tried to Raise $7m from Asians in U.S." The New York Times. December 28, 1996. A1.
• John Wildermuth. "11 Challenge Matsui for Congress Seat". w:San Francisco Chronicle. February 27, 2005. B1.

Local blogs and discussion sites

• Tiger Beat: Music, Culture, and Politics

Corresponding article on Wikipedia and Cause Caller. (If Cause Caller link does not work, pick from its list of senators and representatives.)

Current Office: U.S. House of Representatives
111th Congress
Leadership Position:	Committees Chaired:	Committees, Ranking Member On:	Caucuses:
Committees:
110th Congress
Leadership Position: None	Committees Chaired:	Committees, Ranking Member On:	Caucuses:
Committees: House Committee on Rules, House Committee on Rules/Subcommittee on Rules and Organization of the House, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure/Subcommittee on Aviation, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure/Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure/Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
Congressional Career
First Elected to Current Office: March 8, 2005	First Took Current Office: March 8, 2005	Next Election: November 2, 2010	Term Ends:
Freshman Member? No	Previous Political Work? Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Public Liaison	Other Party Membership:
District Offices:
1. 12-600 Federal Courthouse 501 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 916-498-5600 / Fax: 916-444-6117
Campaign Contact:
Website: Webform Email: / Email: Campaign Offices: 1. Phone: / Fax:
Zip Code Affiliations:
Misc:
Date of Birth: September 25, 1944