Doris Matsui

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.

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

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) Matsui retained her seat.

Money in Politics
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Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * 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

Articles and resources

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

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Tiger Beat: Music, Culture, and Politics