Biography:

Robert Matsui was born in Sacramento, Calif., where he still lives. He graduated in 1959 from C.K. McClatchy High School. He received a bachelor's degree in 1963 from the University of California at Berkeley, and a law degree in 1966 from the university's Hastings College of Law.

He was elected twice to the Sacramento City Council, serving 1971-78, and was vice mayor of Sacramento in 1977. Matsui was first elected to the U.S. House in 1978.

Matsui and his wife, Doris, have one child.

Past Campaigns:

Robert Matsui was elected to the U.S. House in 1978 with 53 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Sandy Smoley for the seat given up by retiring Democratic Rep. John E. Moss.

Matsui has been re-elected by comfortable margins every two years since. He defeating Republican Lowell P. Landowski with 60 percent of the vote in 1990 and Republican Robert Dinsmore in 1992 with 69 percent of the vote. He defeated Dinsmore again in 1994 with 68 percent.

In 1996, he defeated Dinsmore yet again with 71 percent of the vote. In 1998, Matsui defeated Dinsmore for a fourth consecutive election, receiving 72 percent of the vote to Dinsmore's 26 percent.

Matsui won the 2000 race against Republican Christopher Hoffman with 69 percent of the vote. He was re-elected in 2002. The 13-term congressman was unopposed in the March 2004 Democratic primary.

Matsui was elected twice to the Sacramento City Council, serving 1971-78.

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