CA Candidate Faces Backlash for Anti-America Protest
Sacramento councilmember Mai Vang's repeated refusal to recite the Pledge of Allegiance has become a major controversy threatening her Democratic primary challenge against Rep.
Vang, who is polling competitively against Matsui and Republican challenger Zachariah Wooden ahead of the June primary, has made a public practice of declining to participate in the Pledge at multiple official venues. According to accounts, she has turned her back on the flag during ceremonies ranging from a Veterans Day event to Sacramento City Council meetings and district gatherings spanning from January through July 2025.
The controversy has drawn sharp criticism from fellow Democrats and community leaders within the newly redrawn district, which now encompasses more conservative areas including Lodi, Placerville, and El Dorado Hills alongside Sacramento and Elk Grove portions.
David Cushman, chair of the San Joaquin Republican Party, argued that Vang’s strategy mirrors that of New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez but proves ill-suited to the Central Valley electorate. “She’s trying to be the AOC of the Central Valley, but this is not the same district,” Cushman told The California Post.
The councilmember, whose family fled to America as Hmong refugees with assistance from the U.S. military, defended her stance on social media last year. She framed her non-participation as a moment to “ground myself — to center our communities and remind myself of the injustices,” adding hashtags including #FreePalestine and #KeepFamiliesTogether.
Steve Maviglio, a Democratic political consultant, characterized Vang’s actions as fundamentally disrespectful to the military community, calling refusal to recite the Pledge a test of basic patriotism. He also highlighted a stark contrast: while Vang champions immigrant advocacy, Matsui herself survived a Japanese American internment camp during World War II—a lived experience of governmental injustice that, some argue, grants her greater moral authority on the subject.
Beyond the Pledge controversy, critics have targeted Vang’s record on public safety. Amy Gardner, founder of Midtown-East Sac Advocates, criticized her repeated opposition to Sacramento’s city budgets due to police spending disagreements. Vang voted against multiple budgets between 2021 and 2025, according to the Sacramento Bee.
Corrin Rankin, chairwoman of the California Republican Party, framed Vang’s actions as emblematic of broader Democratic deficiencies. She stated that voters demand leaders who respect law enforcement and honor national symbols—standards Vang fails to meet in Rankin’s assessment.
The race remains tightly competitive, with Wooden positioned as a potential spoiler capable of advancing to November’s general election if he finishes in the top two.
With information from New York Post
