Sacramento-area Democrats Matsui, Jones drop millions into their House races

Mathew Miranda, The Sacramento Bee on Oct 19, 2026

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Two Sacramento-area congressional candidates have poured record amounts of personal money to fund their campaigns.

Longtime Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Sacramento, and political newcomer Eric Jones both reported millions in self-funding in the latest federal reports filed Thursday. Both Democrats had already contributed large sums to their races. Unlike the federal campaign contribution limit of $3,500 for donors, candidates can make unlimited contributions or loans.

Jones, a former venture capitalist, is up to roughly $10 million in self-funding, according to the Federal Election Commission website. About $4.7 million of that million came in the last quarter, which spans from July 1 to Sept. 30. That is among the top eight in self-funding for a candidate in California history, according to CalMatters.

Only Democratic candidate Saikat Chakrabarti, who gave about $11.3 million to his primary campaign this year though did not advance to the general, has spent more for a congressional race in state history.

Matsui, who has held a seat in Congress since 2005, has spent $2.9 million of her money on the campaign. She loaned herself $1.4 million in April — a move she had never taken in previous reelection campaigns. She has taken out two more loans, totaling $1.5 million, since Aug. 31. The personal money spent on her campaign also ranks among the top 30 in California history, according to CalMatters.

The two Democrats are both wealthy and locked in intra-party, generational battles in the Sacramento region.

Matsui, 82, faces progressive challenger and Sacramento Councilmember Mai Vang for the 7th Congressional District, which includes Sacramento’s downtown core, Elk Grove, Placerville and El Dorado Hills. Previous estimates of her net worth have ranged around $72 million. She is married to Washington, D.C., billionaire Roger Sant.

Jones, 35, is battling Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, for the sprawling 4th Congressional District, which features parts of nine Northern California counties. He reported earning $86 million in income last year, according to a financial disclosure report from last month.

While the two candidates are both using their personal fortunes to bolster their campaigns, they have chosen slightly different approaches. Jones has opted for direct contributions, while Matsui relied on loans.

With loans, there is an expectation that the campaign — using donor funds — will pay the candidate back, said Shanna Ports, a senior legal counsel for the nonpartisan watchdog group Campaign Legal Center. Repayment, however, does not often happen.

“They are hoping or thinking that in a perfect world I will be able to get it back,” Ports said. “In reality, a lot of candidates end up forgiving the loan and just treating it as a contribution because practically speaking, they can’t raise the money needed to pay themselves back.”

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