Doug LaMalfa, California Republican congressman, dies aged 65 | California
California Republican Doug LaMalfa, who represented the state’s rural northern region in the House of Representatives and was known for his work on water and forestry policy, died at the age of 65, according to statements by Republican officials.
LaMalfa, a fourth-generation rice farmer who previously served in the California state legislature, was in his seventh term representing California’s first congressional district. He sat on the agriculture, natural resources, transportation and infrastructure committees of the House of Representatives.
The cause of death was not disclosed, but the Butte County Sheriff’s Office announced that LaMalfa died during an emergency surgical procedure at a local hospital after emergency responders transported him there Monday evening.
The sheriff’s office said in a statement that it received a call shortly before 7 p.m. Jan. 5 regarding a medical emergency at LaMalfa’s home. The man was transported to a hospital in Chico, where he underwent emergency surgery and died during the procedure.
Richard Hudson, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said he was “deeply saddened by the passing of my colleague and close friend.”
“Doug was a principled conservative and a tireless advocate for the people of Northern California,” Hudson said in a statement. “He was never afraid to fight for rural communities, farmers and working families. Doug brought courage, authenticity and conviction to everything he did in public service.”
His sudden demise reduced House Republicans’ majority to 218-213, leaving GOP leadership with an even smaller margin to pass their legislative agenda. Republicans can now afford to lose just two votes on party-line measures following the departure of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia on Monday.
House majority whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota paid tribute to LaMalfa in a statement posted on social media.
“Doug was a loving father and husband and a staunch advocate for his constituents and rural America,” Emmer said. “Our prayers are with Doug’s wife, Jill, and their children.”
News of LaMalfa’s passing came just minutes before Donald Trump was scheduled to speak to House Republicans at the GOP meeting at the Kennedy Center in Washington, and Trump said he dedicated the speech to her.
“I was really saddened by his passing, and I was considering not even giving a speech in his honor, but then I decided I had to do it in his honor,” Trump told lawmakers. “I’m going to do this in his honor because that’s the way he would want it to be.”
LaMalfa was a longtime Trump ally who objected to the 2020 election results and voted against certifying the result. He has faced criticism and praise for his skepticism about the climate crisis and its causes. Representing a region affected by several deadly wildfires in recent years, he supported legislation to halt federal taxes on firefighting settlements.
LaMalfa was born and raised in Northern California and had represented the region in Congress since 2013. In 2025, he was unanimously elected to serve as chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, which advocates for the west and rural areas more broadly.
He had announced plans to run for re-election but was expected to face a tough race following the passage of Proposition 50, a redistricting measure that changed the boundaries of LaMalfa’s district and other areas to give Democrats an advantage. The proposal comes in the wake of Texas’ partisan gerrymander, and LaMalfa has criticized both efforts.
“No state should redistrict in the middle of the decade unless directed or forced by a court. Voters in California voted overwhelmingly twice to prevent partisan redistricting,” he said in a statement last year.
