Doug LaMalfa, a Northern California congressman who has represented the state’s District 1 for more than a decade, has died, according to multiple officials on Tuesday. He was 65.”Early this morning Congressman Doug LaMalfa returned home to the Lord,” a statement from LaMalfa’s Chief of Staff Mark Spannagel read. “He leaves a lasting legacy of servant leadership kindness to the North State.”Leer en español. The Butte County Sheriff’s Office said emergency personnel went to LaMalfa’s home around 6:50 p.m. Monday after a 911 call. He was taken to Enloe Hospital for emergency surgery but died during the procedure.The coroner is now investigating an official cause of death, the sheriff’s office said.LaMalfa, R-Yuba City, was a fourth-generation rice farmer who heavily advocated for his agricultural constituents. The congressman also worked to provide wildfire victims and survivors in his district with relief and recovery efforts.“Doug’s impact on California agriculture was felt not only through his policy work but through his presence in farming communities,” a statement from the California Farm Bureau read. “He regularly attended county Farm Bureau meetings, listened to producers and supported the issues most important to farmers and ranchers, particularly in his district.”He was elected to the California State Assembly and State Senate before being elected to the U.S. House in 2012.He was unanimously elected in 2025 as chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus.District 1 represents a large portion of California’s northernmost area, including Oroville, Yuba City, Chico, Redding and the California-Oregon state boundary.Spannagel’s statement added that the congressman “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 is survived by his wife Jill, his four children, one grandchild, two sisters and a host of cousins.Officials react to LaMalfa’s passingPresident Donald Trump lamented the congressman’s passing, saying LaMalfa was great on water policies and “a true defender of American children.”Gov. Gavin Newsom said flags at the state Capitol and Capitol Annex Swing Space will be flown half-staff in honor of LaMalfa.”Congressman Doug LaMalfa was a devoted public servant who deeply loved his country, his state, and the communities he represented,” Newsom said. “While we often approached issues from different perspectives, he fought every day for the people of California with conviction and care. He will be deeply missed.””He was someone who fought for the values that really mattered to his district,” fellow GOP Congressman Kevin Kiley told KCRA 3. “This is just really, really hard news and he’s certainly someone who will be greatly missed.”National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson 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 release. “He was never afraid to fight for rural communities, farmers, and working families. Doug brought grit, authenticity, and conviction to everything he did in public service.”Tom Emmer, majority whip for the U.S. House of Representatives, also posted on social platform X about LaMalfa’s passing. He described LaMalfa as “a loving father and husband, and staunch advocate for his constituents and rural America.”Democratic U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, in a statement, considered LaMalfa a friend and partner — the two had recently introduced legislation to grandfather in medical centers that have had the Critical Access Hospital designation for more than two decades.”My thoughts are with his wife, Jill, his children, and all the Northern Californian families and friends that share this loss with the Congress and our nation,” Schiff said. “Doug’s life was one of great service and he will be deeply missed.”Corrin Rankin, California’s Republican Party chairwoman, said she was heartbroken to learn of LaMalfa’s passing.”Doug served Northern California with steady grit, a great sense of humor, and a genuine love for the people he represented,” Rankin said. “He was widely respected and deeply beloved by those who knew and worked with him. May God comfort his wife Jill, their children Kyle, Allison, Sophia, and Natalie, and give strength to his staff, friends, and all who loved him during this incredibly difficult time.”John Garamendi, a Democratic congressman representing California’s District 8, described LaMalfa as a close friend and colleague who cared for the farmers in District 1.“Together for a decade, we represented the great Sacramento Valley, where I was proud to work with him on several bipartisan pieces of legislation in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to secure critical water infrastructure investments, advocate for California farmers, and safeguard the Sacramento River Watershed,” Garamendi said in a statement. “I’m certainly going to miss him as a friend and colleague. We traveled together every week, back and forth on the same plane for nearly fifteen years, and our friendship deepened as did our work for the betterment of the Sacramento Valley.”Democratic congressman Ami Bera recalled how he and LaMalfa shared a weekly commute between Sacramento and Washington, D.C., having also been elected in 2012. “While our politics didn’t always align, he was a good man who cared about his constituents,” Bera said. “Janine and I are keeping the LaMalfa family in our thoughts and prayers.”What’s next for LaMalfa’s congressional seatPolitical Director Ashley Zavala reports that Newsom’s office will send more details about plans for a special election to fill the remainder of LaMalfa’s term.California election section 10700 states that the governor must issue a proclamation for a special election within 14 days of a vacancy in the U.S. House. LaMalfa was one of five Republicans targeted by Proposition 50, a voter-approved measure aimed at sending more Democrats to Congress by redrawing Republican-heavy districts to include more Democratic voters. However, those new congressional maps under Proposition 50 do not take effect until the 2026 election. Paul Mitchell, who heads the firm Democrats hired to redraw the maps through Prop. 50, also asserted that the special election will use current congressional lines and not the new ones. With LaMalfa’s passing, there are now 218 GOP seats in the Lower House, compared to Democrats’ 213. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
Doug LaMalfa, a Northern California congressman who has represented the state’s District 1 for more than a decade, has died, according to multiple officials on Tuesday. He was 65.
“Early this morning Congressman Doug LaMalfa returned home to the Lord,” a statement from LaMalfa’s Chief of Staff Mark Spannagel read. “He leaves a lasting legacy of servant leadership kindness to the North State.”
The Butte County Sheriff’s Office said emergency personnel went to LaMalfa’s home around 6:50 p.m. Monday after a 911 call. He was taken to Enloe Hospital for emergency surgery but died during the procedure.
The coroner is now investigating an official cause of death, the sheriff’s office said.
LaMalfa, R-Yuba City, was a fourth-generation rice farmer who heavily advocated for his agricultural constituents. The congressman also worked to provide wildfire victims and survivors in his district with relief and recovery efforts.
“Doug’s impact on California agriculture was felt not only through his policy work but through his presence in farming communities,” a statement from the California Farm Bureau read. “He regularly attended county Farm Bureau meetings, listened to producers and supported the issues most important to farmers and ranchers, particularly in his district.”
He was elected to the California State Assembly and State Senate before being elected to the U.S. House in 2012.
He was unanimously elected in 2025 as chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus.
District 1 represents a large portion of California’s northernmost area, including Oroville, Yuba City, Chico, Redding and the California-Oregon state boundary.
Spannagel’s statement added that the congressman “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 is survived by his wife Jill, his four children, one grandchild, two sisters and a host of cousins.
Officials react to LaMalfa’s passing
President Donald Trump lamented the congressman’s passing, saying LaMalfa was great on water policies and “a true defender of American children.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom said flags at the state Capitol and Capitol Annex Swing Space will be flown half-staff in honor of LaMalfa.
“Congressman Doug LaMalfa was a devoted public servant who deeply loved his country, his state, and the communities he represented,” Newsom said. “While we often approached issues from different perspectives, he fought every day for the people of California with conviction and care. He will be deeply missed.”
“He was someone who fought for the values that really mattered to his district,” fellow GOP Congressman Kevin Kiley told KCRA 3. “This is just really, really hard news and he’s certainly someone who will be greatly missed.”
National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson 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 release. “He was never afraid to fight for rural communities, farmers, and working families. Doug brought grit, authenticity, and conviction to everything he did in public service.”
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Tom Emmer, majority whip for the U.S. House of Representatives, also posted on social platform X about LaMalfa’s passing. He described LaMalfa as “a loving father and husband, and staunch advocate for his constituents and rural America.”
Democratic U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, in a statement, considered LaMalfa a friend and partner — the two had recently introduced legislation to grandfather in medical centers that have had the Critical Access Hospital designation for more than two decades.
“My thoughts are with his wife, Jill, his children, and all the Northern Californian families and friends that share this loss with the Congress and our nation,” Schiff said. “Doug’s life was one of great service and he will be deeply missed.”
Corrin Rankin, California’s Republican Party chairwoman, said she was heartbroken to learn of LaMalfa’s passing.
“Doug served Northern California with steady grit, a great sense of humor, and a genuine love for the people he represented,” Rankin said. “He was widely respected and deeply beloved by those who knew and worked with him. May God comfort his wife Jill, their children Kyle, Allison, Sophia, and Natalie, and give strength to his staff, friends, and all who loved him during this incredibly difficult time.”
John Garamendi, a Democratic congressman representing California’s District 8, described LaMalfa as a close friend and colleague who cared for the farmers in District 1.
“Together for a decade, we represented the great Sacramento Valley, where I was proud to work with him on several bipartisan pieces of legislation in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to secure critical water infrastructure investments, advocate for California farmers, and safeguard the Sacramento River Watershed,” Garamendi said in a statement. “I’m certainly going to miss him as a friend and colleague. We traveled together every week, back and forth on the same plane for nearly fifteen years, and our friendship deepened as did our work for the betterment of the Sacramento Valley.”
Democratic congressman Ami Bera recalled how he and LaMalfa shared a weekly commute between Sacramento and Washington, D.C., having also been elected in 2012.
“While our politics didn’t always align, he was a good man who cared about his constituents,” Bera said. “Janine and I are keeping the LaMalfa family in our thoughts and prayers.”
What’s next for LaMalfa’s congressional seat
Political Director Ashley Zavala reports that Newsom’s office will send more details about plans for a special election to fill the remainder of LaMalfa’s term.
California election section 10700 states that the governor must issue a proclamation for a special election within 14 days of a vacancy in the U.S. House.
LaMalfa was one of five Republicans targeted by Proposition 50, a voter-approved measure aimed at sending more Democrats to Congress by redrawing Republican-heavy districts to include more Democratic voters. However, those new congressional maps under Proposition 50 do not take effect until the 2026 election.
Paul Mitchell, who heads the firm Democrats hired to redraw the maps through Prop. 50, also asserted that the special election will use current congressional lines and not the new ones.
With LaMalfa’s passing, there are now 218 GOP seats in the Lower House, compared to Democrats’ 213.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel