Councilmember Mai Vang is a Sacramento native and the eldest of 16 children. She is a Hmong-American and her parents were Cambodian refugees. Vang holds a Bachelor's degree in Biology and Sociology from the University of San Francisco, a Master's degree in Public Health and Asian American Studies from UCLA. She is a community organizer, educator, and politician who has worked on a variety of issues such as education, labor, and racial/ethnic health disparities with local and national policy and government organizations. Prior to her election as councilmember, Vang served as the Executive Director of the Buck Scholars Association, where she provided mentorship and scholarships to talented high school students who lack the resources and support to achieve their educational goals. She is also a co-founder of Hmong Innovating Politics (HIP), an organization that aims to strengthen disenfranchised communities through innovative civic engagement and strategic grassroots mobilization.

In her spare time, Vang enjoys hiking with her dog Coffee and spending time with her siblings. She holds several positions on boards, commissions, committees, and authorities that cater to different needs and requirements. Nowadays, Vang resides in the Meadowview neighborhood of Sacramento and teaches part-time at California State University, Sacramento, and the University of California, Davis.