Rep. Doug LaMalfa, a Republican from Northern California and a prominent advocate for agriculture and rural communities, has died at age 65, House GOP leaders announced Tuesday.
LaMalfa, a fourth-generation rice farmer and business owner, chaired the Congressional Western Caucus and was deeply involved in federal responses to California’s devastating wildfire seasons. His sprawling district included Chico and large swaths of rural Northern California.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, a close friend, called the death sudden and devastating, describing LaMalfa as a devoted husband, father, and unwavering champion for rural America. Rep. Richard Hudson praised him as a principled conservative who fought hard for farmers, working families, and Western water policy, noting their shared work on the Agriculture Committee.
LaMalfa’s death immediately tightens the already narrow House majority. Republicans now hold 218 seats to Democrats’ 213, leaving GOP leaders with even less margin for internal dissent.
California will schedule a special election to fill the seat. The district is expected to remain safely Republican, as Donald Trump carried it by about 25 points in the last election. The special election will be run under the current district lines, despite maps already redrawn for 2026.
President Donald Trump ordered flags at the White House flown at half-staff and paid tribute to LaMalfa during remarks to House Republicans, calling him a strong leader on Western and California water issues and a fierce advocate for his constituents.
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