Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., leaves a meeting of the House Republican Conference at the Capitol Hill Club on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.
Tom Williams | Cq-roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images
California Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa died Tuesday, his office announced. He was 65.
“Early this morning Congressman Doug LaMalfa returned home to the Lord. He leaves a lasting legacy of servant leadership kindness to the North State,” LaMalfa’s chief of staff, Mark Spannagel, said in a statement. “Congressman LaMalfa cared deeply for the people he served and worked tirelessly to hold the government to its word to fix our failing forests, build water storage, and leave people to be free to choose what is best for themselves.”
LaMalfa’s death tightens the razor-thin House majority and could imperil Speaker Mike Johnson’s grip on the chamber. The House stood at 219 Republicans and 213 Democrats after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., resigned on Monday. LaMalfa’s death brings the House to 218 Republicans.
Democrats are favored to pick up additional seats from special elections in the coming months. Two Democrats are in a runoff in Texas at the end of the month, and the election to replace now-New Jersey Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill will take place later this year.
LaMalfa represented California’s 1st Congressional District since 2013. He chaired the Congressional Western Caucus.
A cause of death has not been released.
A rice farmer by trade, LaMalfa was a key player on California water issues and served on the House Natural Resources and Agriculture Committees. He also served on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
His electoral prospects, however, were increasingly at risk in 2026 after California adopted new congressional maps that favor Democrats.
“Congress is devastated to learn this morning about the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Doug LaMalfa,” said House Speaker Johnson, R-La. “He was as fierce of a fighter for his state’s vast natural resources and beauty as we have ever known.”
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., also expressed condolences for LaMalfa.
“A fourth-generation rice farmer, Rep. LaMalfa treasured his community, worked powerfully to protect California’s farmers and served those he represented with principled purpose, from the state legislature to the United States House of Representatives,” Jeffries said.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday mourned LaMalfa in remarks before the House GOP conference.
“He was a fantastic person,” Trump said. “He voted with me 100% of the time.”
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., said in a post to X that he’s “devastated about the sudden loss of our friend, Congressman Doug LaMalfa.”
“Doug was a loving father and husband, and staunch advocate for his constituents and rural America,” Emmer said.
A cause of death has not been released.
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom now has 14 days to announce a special election to replace LaMalfa, per California election laws. The election then must take place no more than 140 days after Newsom’s proclamation — potentially pushing an election to replace LaMalfa to June.
Jeffries held a moment of silence for LaMalfa before a Democratic hearing on the anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
“A great member of Congress, from the great state of California,” Jeffries said.
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.
Correction: There are 213 Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives. That fact was misstated in an earlier version of this article.
