Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang has routinely refused to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance, reports indicate. The reports resurfaced as Vang is attempting to unseat Democratic Rep. Doris Matsui.
Vang has defended her refusal to participate in the pledge, writing on social media in 2025, “And this is exactly why I choose not to recite the Pledge of Allegiance during every council meeting. As much as I love this country, I use that moment to ground myself – to center our communities and remind myself of the injustices and harm that continue to affect so many, both locally and across the globe, under this nation’s influence.”
“We must not tune out – they want us to become numb to the realities we see in the news – it’s part of the plan to keep us complacent. But instead, we resist, she wrote. “We surround ourselves with loved ones, take time to rest, remain vigilant, and stay steadfast in the fight for equity, justice & humanity. We got us. I love you all.”
Corrin Rankin, Chairwoman of the California Republican Party, said Vang’s refusal to pledge highlights issues within the Democratic Party. “Too much contempt for law enforcement, too little respect for our country, and no understanding of what Californians value,” Rankin said, as per the New York Post. “Voters want leaders who respect the police and honor our flag. When a candidate cannot meet that basic test, it tells voters everything they need to know.”
Steve Maviglio, a Democratic political consultant, also told the outlet that Vang’s choice is “completely disrespectful to veterans and their families.”
“It’s ‘Patriotism 101,’ you say the Pledge of Allegiance even if you don’t agree with everything,” Maviglio said. “You can’t say the Pledge of Allegiance — that’s how extreme you are? Come on.”
