Rep. Doug LaMalfa, a Republican lawmaker and rice farmer who represented rural Northern California in Congress for more than a decade, has died at the age of 65, his office announced Tuesday.
LaMalfa was serving his seventh term in the U.S. House, representing California’s 1st Congressional District, which spans many of the state’s northernmost counties along the Oregon border. He was first elected to Congress in 2012 after previously serving in both the California State Assembly and State Senate.
No cause of death has been released. In a statement, his office said, “Early this morning Congressman Doug LaMalfa returned home to the Lord.”
Tributes Pour In
National Republican Congressional Committee Chair Richard Hudson of North Carolina described LaMalfa as a principled conservative and tireless advocate for rural communities.
“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.”
LaMalfa’s chief of staff, Mark Spannagel, said the congressman leaves behind “a lasting legacy of servant leadership and kindness to the North State,” noting his commitment to forest management, water storage, and limited government.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom also issued a statement, praising LaMalfa’s dedication despite political differences.
“While we often approached issues from different perspectives, he fought every day for the people of California with conviction and care,” Newsom said. “He will be deeply missed.”
Congressional Impact
LaMalfa’s death further narrows Republicans’ already slim House majority, which now stands at five seats. His passing follows the recent resignation of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, and Democrats are expected to gain another seat in Texas following an upcoming runoff election.
Policy Legacy
A strong advocate for agriculture, ranching, and rural communities, LaMalfa championed conservative principles including limited government and lower taxes. He opposed federally codifying marriage equality, supported restrictions on gender-affirming care, and backed the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
He served on the House Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Transportation and Infrastructure committees, and in 2024 was unanimously selected as chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, a group focused on rural policy issues.
LaMalfa was widely regarded as an expert on water policy and forest management — critical issues in his wildfire-prone district. Following the deadly Camp and Dixie fires, he led efforts to exempt fire recovery funds from federal income taxes and pushed legislation aimed at reducing wildfire risk through forest management reforms.
A Seat in Transition
LaMalfa’s district was among those reshaped by new congressional maps approved by voters in November. The redrawn boundaries would have removed rural Modoc County while adding tens of thousands of voters from Democratic-leaning Sonoma County, setting up what was expected to be a difficult reelection battle.
California Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire, a Democrat, had recently entered the race to challenge LaMalfa, who had warned that the new maps would weaken rural representation.
