Republican Congressman Doug LaMalfa Dies at 65, Narrowing GOP House Majority

Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa of California, a seven-term congressman and rice farmer who was a stalwart supporter of former President Donald Trump, has died at age 65, further tightening Republicans’ slim majority in the House of Representatives.

LaMalfa suffered a medical emergency Monday night and was rushed to a local hospital, where he died during surgery, according to the Butte County sheriff’s office. Officials have not disclosed the cause of death.

His passing reduces the Republican majority in the House to a razor-thin 218-213 margin, adding further pressure to Speaker Mike Johnson’s ability to advance legislation in an already divided chamber.

Trump, addressing House Republicans on Tuesday, expressed “tremendous sorrow” over LaMalfa’s death, noting the congressman’s unwavering support.

“He voted with me 100% of the time,” Trump remarked. “With Doug, I never had to call,” unlike other lawmakers he would contact in the early morning hours to secure votes.

LaMalfa represented California’s 1st Congressional District, which spans a vast rural region from the Oregon border southward toward Sacramento. First elected to Congress in 2012 after serving in the California state legislature, he was a fourth-generation rice farmer who brought his agricultural background to his work in Washington.

In Congress, LaMalfa established himself as a champion for rural communities, focusing on forestry, agriculture, and wildfire mitigation. He served on the House Agriculture Committee and chaired a subcommittee on forestry issues, while also working on transportation and natural resources committees.

“He was probably one of the most normal people in Congress, down to earth,” said Mark Spannagel, who began working for LaMalfa in 2002 and served as his chief of staff. “You want to sit there and have an iced tea with him.”

Former staff members and colleagues described LaMalfa as deeply committed to constituent service, often driving hundreds of miles across his sprawling district to attend small community events.

“He would show up at the smallest events that were important in people’s lives in this district,” recalled David Reade, LaMalfa’s former chief of staff from his days in the state legislature.

Colleagues remembered LaMalfa as a car enthusiast who often arrived at events with grease under his fingernails, a lover of classic rock, and an “Austin Powers” movie fan with a keen sense of humor.

One of his significant legislative achievements came earlier this year when President Biden signed his bill exempting wildfire relief payments from federal income taxes. The legislation directly benefited constituents in his district, which was devastated by the 2018 Camp Fire, California’s deadliest wildfire in history that destroyed the town of Paradise.

LaMalfa consistently advocated for increased water storage infrastructure and more aggressive forest management to reduce wildfire threats in California’s drought-prone forests.

Despite his popularity in his conservative district, LaMalfa faced criticism in recent years for his unwavering support of Trump’s agenda, particularly regarding healthcare and rural assistance programs. He encountered vocal opposition at some town halls but remained committed to his conservative principles.

LaMalfa had planned to run for reelection despite California voters approving a ballot measure in November that redrew his district boundaries, a Democratic-backed initiative that threatened to make his reelection more challenging.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, must now call a special election to fill LaMalfa’s seat. The election could be scheduled as late as June 2026, when California will hold its primary for the next midterm election.

Richard Hudson, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, called LaMalfa “a principled conservative and a tireless advocate for the people of Northern California,” adding that “he brought grit, authenticity, and conviction to everything he did in public service.”

As news of his death spread through Washington, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries called for a moment of silence in LaMalfa’s honor during a Capitol event commemorating the fifth anniversary of the January 6, 2021 attack.

C-SPAN recently noted that LaMalfa was among the most active members on the House floor, giving remarks for the record on at least 81 days in 2025, a frequency surpassed by only two other lawmakers.