Challenger Won’t Seek Matsui’s House Seat
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SACRAMENTO — A Democratic state senator considered the most formidable challenger to Doris Matsui’s bid to succeed her late husband in Congress has decided not to seek the seat.
“I’ve decided not to go through with this,” Sen. Deborah Ortiz said Friday, calling her choice the “right thing to do.”
The decision largely clears the way for Matsui to easily run for the seat of Robert T. Matsui, 63, who represented Sacramento for 26 years and died Jan. 1 of complications from a rare bone marrow disease.
Doris Matsui, a Washington lobbyist and former Clinton White House official, announced Wednesday she would campaign to succeed her husband. The primary election is March 8.
Ortiz, of Sacramento, pledged her “full support” to Matsui, who also has been endorsed by House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco. Earlier, Rep. Joe Baca (D-Rialto), chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said he could help raise money for Ortiz if she ran.
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