California Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) has died, GOP leadership and President Trump confirmed Tuesday morning.
“Jacquie and I are saddened by the sudden loss of our friend, Congressman Doug LaMalfa. Doug was a loving father and husband, and a loyal advocate for his constituents and rural America,” said Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), who is the House majority whip, on X. “Our prayers are with X.
LaMalfa, 65, was a fourth-generation rice farmer from Oroville and a staunch Trump supporter who represented his Northern California district for the past 12 years. His seat was one of several at stake under the state’s redistricting that was approved by Proposition 50 voters.
Emergency personnel responded to a 911 call from LaMalfa’s residence at 6:50 p.m. Monday, according to the Butte County Sheriff’s Office. The congressman was taken to Enloe Medical Center in Chico, where he died during emergency surgery, authorities said.
An autopsy to determine the cause of death is being planned, according to the sheriff’s office.
LaMalfa County — which stretches from the northern edge of Sacramento, through Redding at the northern end of the Central Valley and Alturas in the northeast corner of the state — is a rural area, and people have long said they feel underrepresented in liberal California.
LaMalfa is focused on improving the water used by farmers, as well as trying to reduce environmental restrictions on logging and mining other natural resources.
LaMalfa’s last act in the US House was to successfully push for the reauthorization of the Protected Rural Schools Act, a long-standing financial aid program for schools surrounded by tax-exempt state forest land, whose budgets did not depend on property taxes, as most public schools do. Despite broad bipartisan support, Congress is set to expire in 2023.
In an interview with The Times while he was on the floor of the House in mid-December, LaMalfa said he was frustrated by Congress’ inability to pass a popular bill like the reauthorization.
The Secure Rural Schools Act, he said, is a victim of a Congress where it’s “an eternal battle over anything fiscal.” “It’s annoying,” LaMalfa said, “how hard it is to do basic things here.”
In a statement sent to X, California Democratic Senator Adam Schiff said he considers LaMalfa “a friend and colleague” and that the congressman is “deeply committed to his community and constituents, working to make life better for those who represent him.”
“Doug’s life was one of great service and he will be greatly missed,” Schiff wrote.
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in a statement called LaMalfa “a dedicated public servant who deeply loved his country, his country and the communities he represented.”
“Although we often faced issues in different ways, he fought for the people of California every day with conviction and care,” Newsom said.
Flags at the California State Capitol in Sacramento will be flown as part of the staff to honor the congressman, according to the governor.
Before his death, LaMalfa was facing a tough re-election bid to hold his seat. After voters approved Proposition 50 in November — aimed at giving California Democrats more seats in Congress — LaMalfa was drawn to a new, more favorable district for his potential opponent, State Sen. Mike McGuire, a Democrat who represents the state’s northwest coast.
LaMalfa’s death puts the Republican majority in Congress even more at risk, with just two votes remaining to pass any party-line bill after Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene resigned Monday evening.
Adding to the party’s woes, Rep. Jim Baird, a Republican from Indiana, was hospitalized Tuesday in a car accident described by the White House as “serious.” Although Baird is said to be stable, the speaker of the Republican House, Mike Johnson of Louisiana, cannot count on his presence. And you have one more caucus member — Thomas Massie of Kentucky — who has made a habit of voting against the president, reducing their margin of error to zero.
President Trump, speaking at a meeting of members of the GOP House at the Kennedy Center, addressed the news at the beginning of his remarks, expressing “great sadness at the loss of a great member” and said that his speech would be made in honor of LaMalfa.
“He was the leader of the Western caucus — a fierce champion of California water issues. He was good at water. ‘Free the water!’ he was shouting loudly. And he is a true protector of America’s children. “
“You know, you voted with me 100% of the time,” Trump added.
A native of Oroville, LaMalfa attended Butte College and earned a degree in ag-business from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He served in the California Assembly from 2002 to 2008 and in the California State Senate from 2010 to 2012. Strongly, he was an early supporter of Proposition 209, which ended affirmative action in California, and he also pushed for the passage of the Defense of Marriage Act, Proposition 22, which banned California-sex marriage.
While representing the 1st District of California, LaMalfa focused on issues affecting rural California and other western states. In 2025, the Congressman was elected as the Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, focusing on legislation affecting rural areas.
