As Memorial Day weekend approaches, millions of Americans will pause to remember those who sacrificed their lives while serving in the U.S. military. However, one California congressional candidate, Mai Vang, might not be participating in these commemorations.
Mai Vang, a progressive member of the Sacramento City Council, has gained attention for her decision to abstain from reciting the Pledge of Allegiance during public meetings and ceremonies. She has also been known to turn her back on the American flag during such events.
Vang is challenging long-serving Democratic Representative Doris Matsui in the upcoming June primary election. Current polls indicate a tight race, with Vang running closely alongside Matsui and slightly ahead of Republican contender Zachariah Wooden.
However, the notion of a candidate perceived as unpatriotic is causing concern among some voters in California’s newly reconfigured 7th congressional district. This area now incorporates more conservative locales such as Lodi, Placerville, and El Dorado Hills, alongside parts of Sacramento and Elk Grove.
David Cushman, the chair of the San Joaquin Republican Party, has criticized Vang, suggesting she is trying to emulate the ambitious style of New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
“Her approach is a miscalculation and doesn’t align well with the district’s values,” Cushman remarked to The California Post.
“She’s trying to be the AOC of the Central Valley, but this is not the same district as AOC’s or even Nancy Pelosi’s district [in San Francisco].”
Vang, the daughter of Hmong refugees, has had several notable incidents in which she refused to take part in the Pledge — from a Veterans Day ceremony last year to district meetings on Jan. 22 and March 26, as well as a Sacramento City Council meeting on July 1, 2025.
Steve Maviglio, a Democratic political consultant in Sacramento, called Vang’s actions “completely disrespectful to veterans and their families.”
“It’s ‘Patriotism 101,’ you say the Pledge of Allegiance even if you don’t agree with everything,” Maviglio said.
“You can’t say the Pledge of Allegiance — that’s how extreme you are? Come on.”
Vang, who did not respond to the Post’s request for comment, even celebrated her refusal to cite the Pledge of Allegiance in a social media post last year.
“As much as I love this country, I use that moment to ground myself — to center our communities and remind myself of the injustices and harm that continue to affect so many, both locally and across the globe, under this nation’s influence,” she wrote, adding #FreePalestine and #KeepFamiliesTogether hashtags.
“We must not tune out — they want us to become numb to the realities we see in the news — it’s part of the plan to keep us complacent. But instead, we resist. We surround ourselves with loved ones, take time to rest, remain vigilant, and stay steadfast in the fight for equity, justice & humanity.”
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What has further enraged some of Vang’s critics is the contrast in her family’s path to the US — with the assistance of the US military — compared to the way Matsui’s family was treated.
Rep. Matsui, 81, was born in an internment camp during World War II after the federal government forced her family and many Japanese Americans into detention facilities.
“[Vang] is going on like she’s the big champion of immigrant rights, and Matsui lived it,” Maviglio said.
Amy Gardner, a community organizer who founded Midtown-East Sac Advocates, called Vang’s actions during the Pledge “infuriating” while also criticizing the councilmember’s approach to public safety.
Vang repeatedly opposed Sacramento city budgets over disagreements about police spending, including voting against multiple budgets between 2021 and 2025, according to the Sacramento Bee.
“I think she’s actively trying to take money away from the police department and law enforcement across the board,” Gardener said.
Corrin Rankin, chairwoman of the California Republican Party, said the controversy over Vang’s refusal to take part in something as fundamental as the Pledge speaks to broader problems inside the Democratic Party.
“Too much contempt for law enforcement, too little respect for our country, and no understanding of what Californians value,” Rankin said.
“Voters want leaders who respect the police and honor our flag. When a candidate cannot meet that basic test, it tells voters everything they need to know.”
Wooden, a first-time candidate who hails from San Joaquin County, appears to be within shouting distance of finishing in the top two, which would allow him to advance to the November runoff.
“To hear that somebody wants to be a sitting member of US Congress and appears to be disinterested in the major symbols of American pride and what it means to be an American, it’s not just disappointing — it’s malicious,” he said.
“A lot of her rhetoric is a rejection of our basic American values.”
