Mai Vang

Mai Vang is a Sacramento native, the eldest of 16 children, born to Hmong refugees who came to the U.S. from Laos. Growing up in South Sacramento (especially in Meadowview and Oak Park), she saw firsthand how challenges like poverty, language barriers, and under-resourced schools affect families and neighborhoods. She earned bachelor’s degrees in both Biology and Sociology from the University of San Francisco, followed by dual master’s degrees in Public Health and Asian American Studies from UCLA. In 2016, she was elected to the Sacramento City Unified School Board. In November 2020, she made history by being elected to the Sacramento City Council representing District 8, becoming the first Asian woman to serve on Sacramento’s City Council. Since taking office, Mai Vang has pushed for a number of substantive, community-centered initiatives. Mai Vang is often described as a fighter—for fairness, for her community, for those who are often unheard. Her upbringing and family life inform her priorities: she works to ensure that resources reach those who’ve been historically left behind. She lives in Meadowview, South Sacramento, and in her spare time enjoys hiking with her dog “Coffee” and spending time with her large family.