Rep. Doug LaMalfa, a California Republican who cast reliable votes for President Donald Trump’s agenda through seven House terms, died Tuesday at age 65 after suffering a medical emergency the previous evening, the Butte County sheriff’s office said. He was taken to a local hospital where he died during a surgical procedure. Officials have not disclosed the cause of death.
LaMalfa’s death narrows the Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives to 218 seats against 213 held by Democrats and triggers a special election in California that Gov. Gavin Newsom must call — potentially as late as June, when the state holds its 2026 midterm primary.
A reliable Trump ally
Trump expressed “tremendous sorrow” over LaMalfa’s death while addressing a meeting of House Republicans on Tuesday. He described the late congressman as an ally whose support never required a late-night phone call.
“He voted with me 100% of the time,” Trump said. “With Doug, I never had to call.”
LaMalfa, a fourth-generation rice farmer, was elected to Congress in 2012 after serving in the California state Legislature. He represented California’s 1st District, which covered a large portion of the state’s rural North, spanning from the Oregon border to just north of Sacramento. He served on the House Agriculture Committee and chaired a subcommittee with jurisdiction over forestry issues, and also served on committees dealing with transportation and natural resources.
C-SPAN recorded LaMalfa giving at least one set of remarks on 81 days in 2025 — one of the three highest totals in the House that year.
Focus on rural communities
Colleagues and staff described LaMalfa as a congressman who made a point of reaching constituents across a sprawling district.
“He would show up at the smallest events that were important in people’s lives in this district,” said David Reade, a former chief of staff who worked with LaMalfa in the state Legislature. “He would drive literally hundreds and hundreds of miles to be there.”
Mark Spannagel, LaMalfa’s current chief of staff who has worked with him since 2002, called him “probably one of the most normal people in Congress, down to earth.”
Among his legislative priorities, LaMalfa passed a 2024 law exempting wildfire relief payments from federal income taxes, which President Joe Biden signed. The measure came after parts of his district were devastated by the deadliest wildfire in California state history in 2018. He also advocated for increased water storage and expanded forest management to reduce wildfire risk.
National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson called LaMalfa “a principled conservative and a tireless advocate for the people of Northern California.”
“He was never afraid to fight for rural communities, farmers, and working families,” Hudson said. “Doug brought grit, authenticity, and conviction to everything he did in public service.”
A narrowed majority and a coming election
LaMalfa had planned to seek reelection despite his district being redrawn under a ballot measure California voters passed in November. The measure, backed by Democrats, was designed to make reelection more difficult for LaMalfa and four other Republican incumbents.
With his seat now vacant, Republicans hold their slimmest possible majority in the House. Newsom’s office confirmed the governor must call a special election, which could be timed to coincide with the June primary.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York called for a moment of silence in LaMalfa’s honor at the start of a panel marking the fifth anniversary of the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.