Doris Matsui announced yesterday that she will seek the California congressional seat held for 26 years by her late husband Rep. Robert T. Matsui. She immediately received the endorsement of Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi, who represents the San Francisco area in Congress. Pelosi noted her credentials in giving her endorsement. “Doris has advocated for the people of Sacramento for more than 25 years. She knows the 5th District inside and out, and has worked effectively on its behalf,” Pelosi told The Associate Press.
In her announcement, Matsui stated her opposition to President Bush’s plans to privatize Social Security and her support for increasing federal spending for stem cell research. Matsui said stem cell research offers hope for the disease that caused her husband’s death.
Doris Matsui served as a board member of President Clinton’s 1992 transition team and later became deputy assistant to the president and deputy director of public liaison. Since leaving the White House in 1998, she has worked with the Washington, D.C., law firm of Collier Shannon Scott.
May 3rd has been set as the date for the general election with a primary election, if needed, to be held on March 8.
