Matsui's husband, Congressman Bob Matsui, died from complications of myelodysplastic syndrome on January 1, 2005.
On January 9, 2005, the day after his funeral, Matsui told supporters she was running for his open seat (see widow's succession).
In the special election on March 8, 2005, she garnered 68% of the vote.
Press reports said that Matsui won the election before the polls opened, as most votes in the election were absentee ballots, which she won overwhelmingly.
Congresswoman Matsui was elected to a full term in 2006 and has been reelected four more times without serious difficulty.
The 6th is the most Democratic district in interior California; it and its predecessors have been in Democratic hands without interruption since 1953.

In her inaugural speech, she spoke of the many people who encouraged her to run and her family.
She pledged to continue the work of her husband, especially regarding flood control projects in Sacramento, the main city in the district.

In 2007, Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed Matsui to the Smithsonian Institution's Board of Regents, where she served until 2011.
Matsui was one of only three House Members to sit on the board.
In 2007, Matsui was instrumental in developing an overhaul of the oversight and accountability practices of the Smithsonian.

Matsui served as convention parliamentarian of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.

She supports full disclosure of campaign finances for politicians and desires more fair elections, as well as extending election periods to grab more of the population.
She has also expressed support for whistleblowers' protection to promote transparency in both business and government.
Matsui's husband, Congressman Bob Matsui, died from complications of myelodysplastic syndrome on January 1, 2005. On January 9, 2005, the day after his funeral, Matsui told supporters she was running for his open seat (see widow's succession). In the special election on March 8, 2005, she garnered 68% of the vote. Press reports said that Matsui won the election before the polls opened, as most votes in the election were absentee ballots, which she won overwhelmingly. Congresswoman Matsui was elected to a full term in 2006 and has been reelected four more times without serious difficulty. The 6th is the most Democratic district in interior California; it and its predecessors have been in Democratic hands without interruption since 1953.
In her inaugural speech, she spoke of the many people who encouraged her to run and her family. She pledged to continue the work of her husband, especially regarding flood control projects in Sacramento, the main city in the district.
In 2007, Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed Matsui to the Smithsonian Institution's Board of Regents, where she served until 2011. Matsui was one of only three House Members to sit on the board. In 2007, Matsui was instrumental in developing an overhaul of the oversight and accountability practices of the Smithsonian.
Matsui served as convention parliamentarian of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.
She supports full disclosure of campaign finances for politicians and desires more fair elections, as well as extending election periods to grab more of the population. She has also expressed support for whistleblowers' protection to promote transparency in both business and government.
Doris Matsui