The United States Congress has been thrown into mourning following the death of Doug LaMalfa, a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Northern California, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of sixty-five.
LaMalfa, who represented a largely rural district in the northern part of the state of California, United States of America, was widely known for his advocacy on agricultural policy, wildfire recovery, and conservative fiscal principles. His death was confirmed by senior Republican lawmakers in Washington, although no official cause of death has been disclosed as of the time of this report.
Okay News reports that the passing of the California lawmaker has immediate political consequences, as it reduces the Republican Party’s numerical control in the House of Representatives from two hundred and eighteen seats to two hundred and thirteen seats, further tightening an already fragile majority in the lower chamber of the United States Congress.
Confirmation of LaMalfa’s death came from the United States House Majority Whip, Tom Emmer, a Republican lawmaker representing Minnesota, who shared a personal message on the social media platform X. Emmer described the loss as sudden and deeply painful.
“Jacquie and I are 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. Our prayers are with Doug’s wife, Jill, and their children,” Emmer wrote.
LaMalfa also served as Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, a group focused on issues affecting rural communities, public lands, water access, and agriculture across the western United States. His leadership role placed him at the center of policy debates involving farming, land management, and wildfire mitigation.
With his death, and following the recent resignation of Georgia lawmaker Marjorie Taylor Greene, Republicans in the House can now afford to lose only two votes and still pass legislation strictly along party lines. This development adds pressure as lawmakers begin the second half of the One Hundred and Nineteenth United States Congress, where major legislative proposals are being prepared.
Tributes poured in from colleagues across the country, reflecting the unexpected nature of his passing. Richard Hudson, a Republican Congressman from North Carolina and Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, described LaMalfa as a committed public servant.
“Doug was a principled conservative and a tireless advocate for the people of Northern California. 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,” Hudson said.
Another California lawmaker, Young Kim, a Republican member of the House, also issued a statement highlighting LaMalfa’s character and leadership.
“Doug was not only a respected colleague in the California Republican Delegation, but a genuinely kind, decent man who treated everyone with warmth and respect. His leadership, friendship, and steady presence will be deeply missed,” she said.
Born into a farming family, LaMalfa was a fourth-generation rice farmer and business owner who spent his entire life in Northern California. He earned a degree in Agricultural Business from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, before entering public service.
Before his election to the United States House of Representatives in 2012, LaMalfa served in both the California State Assembly and the California State Senate, building a reputation as a lawmaker focused on rural development and economic conservatism.
During his time in Congress, LaMalfa consistently described himself as an advocate for limited government, constitutional principles, fiscal restraint, and lower taxation. His district, which includes the cities of Chico and Redding in Northern California, has experienced several devastating wildfires that claimed more than one hundred lives over recent years.
According to his official biography, LaMalfa authored and supported legislation aimed at helping wildfire victims recover, including measures that removed federal taxes on fire recovery settlements and adjusted forest management policies to reduce future wildfire risks.
