On March 8, Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA) won a special election to fill the seat of her late husband, Rep. Robert Matsui (D-CA), who died on January 1, 2005. She was sworn in on March 10.
With her election, the total number of House women serving in the 109th Congress increases to an all-time high of 69. Three women serve as Delegates, and there are 23 Republicans and 46 Democrats. Fourteen women serve in the Senate. Rep. Matsui is currently the only Asian-American woman in Congress.
A native of California, Rep. Matsui served in the Clinton administration as the deputy assistant to the president and deputy director of Public Liaison in addition to being on the president’s transition team and chairing the Nonprofit Liaison Group. Prior to her election, she was a senior advisor and director of government relations and public policy at the law firm Collier Shannon Scott. Rep. Matsui serves on the Meridian International Center Board of Trustees, the Woodrow Wilson Center Board of Trustees and the California Institute Board of Directors.
