SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Republican Doug LaMalfa, a California rice farmer who served seven terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and was a reliable vote on President Donald Trump’s agenda, has died at age 65. LaMalfa’s death reduces the GOP’s narrow control of the House to 218 seats to Democrats’ 213.
LaMalfa was a former state lawmaker and rice farmer who was first elected to Congress in 2012. The Butte County Sheriff’s Office said the congressman experienced a medical emergency Monday, Jan. 6 and died during a surgical procedure.
Democratic California Sen. Adam Schiff said LaMalfa was willing to work across the aisle to get things done.
Trump expressed “tremendous sorrow” over LaMalfa’s death as he addressed a meeting of House Republicans on Tuesday, lamenting the loss of a lawmaker he championed as an ally for his agenda. He said the late congressman “wasn’t a 3 o’clock in the morning person” like other lawmakers he would call in the wee hours to lobby for their votes.
“He voted with me 100% of the time,” Trump said. “With Doug, I never had to call.”
U.S. Rep. Julie Fedorchak responded to the news about LaMalfa on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Doug was a smart and decent man,” she tweeted. “He was so kind and made a genuine effort from my very first days in Congress to help me. I consulted with him often. He was a thoughtful, pragmatic conservative and an effective voice in our Conference. This is a huge loss to his district, to the House, and obviously crushing to his beautiful family about whom he was so proud. My prayers are with them in this tragic time.”
In Bismarck, N.D. on Tuesday, Jan. 7, Gov. Kelly Armstrong directed all government agencies to fly the U.S. and North Dakota flags at half-staff, and encouraged fellow North Dakotans to do the same at their homes and businesses, until sunset in honor and remembrance. The governor’s directive is pursuant to the U.S. flag code, which states that flags shall be flown at half-staff following the death of a member of Congress.
Armstrong served with LaMalfa for six years in the U.S. House from 2019 through 2024.
“Doug was a common-sense lawmaker who fought tirelessly for his fellow farmers and rural America, in addition to being a great father, husband and friend,” Armstrong said. “Kjersti and I send our prayers and sympathies to his wife, Jill, their entire family and everyone who had the honor of serving with him.”
Longtime public servant
LaMalfa, a fourth-generation rice farmer, was elected to Congress in 2012 after serving in the state Legislature. He represented California’s 1st District, which covered a vast portion of the state’s rural North, spanning from the Oregon border down to just north of the capital, Sacramento.
He was a regular presence on the House floor, helping GOP leadership open the chamber and frequently offering his view on local and national affairs. He served on the House Agriculture Committee and as the chairman of a subcommittee with jurisdiction over forestry issues. He also served on committees dealing with transportation and natural resource issues.
LaMalfa had planned to run for reelection despite his district being dramatically redrawn under a ballot measure passed by California voters in November. The measure, backed by Democrats, was designed to make it harder for LaMalfa and four other Republicans to win reelection.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, must call a special election to replace LaMalfa, his office said. The election could happen as late as June, when California will hold its primary for the 2026 midterm.
A focus on rural issues, wildfire prevention
LaMalfa’s colleagues, staff members and friends said he cared deeply about his district, often driving far distances to check in with constituents and working on key local issues such as wildfire prevention and water storage.
“He would show up at the smallest events that were important in people’s lives in this district,” recalled David Reade, a former chief of staff of LaMalfa’s from the state legislature. “He would drive literally hundreds and hundreds of miles to be there.”
His current chief of staff, Mark Spannagel, who started working for him in 2002, said the congressman was a “deeply funny guy.” He was obsessed with cars, often showing up at events with grease under his fingernails, and he loved classic rock and the “Austin Powers” movies, Spannagel said.
“He’s probably one of the most normal people in Congress, down to earth,” he said in a phone interview. “You want to sit there and have an iced tea with him.”
LaMalfa once traveled to multiple Veterans Affairs offices in Washington to advocate for a constituent, Spannagel said. He also would host town halls and political events in small towns in his district to meet more constituents.
“Just because, ‘Why not? We’re gonna go do them. We’re gonna be there. Let those people be heard, too,’” he said. “It’s not all about the biggest city or the biggest town.”
One of his priorities in Congress was advocating for wildfire mitigation and protecting victims, said state Assembly member James Gallagher, who called LaMalfa his “big brother.”
LaMalfa successfully passed legislation in 2024 to exempt wildfire relief payments from federal income taxes. It came after parts of his district were ravaged by the deadliest wildfire in state history in 2018. President Joe Biden signed it into law. LaMalfa also called for increased water storage and for more forest management to reduce the threat of wildfires.
But LaMalfa’s unwavering support of Trump has prompted frustration for some voters in recent years. Some were hoping to oust him during the midterm election because of his vote for Trump’s plan to overhaul health care, food assistance and other rural resources. LaMalfa was met with yelling and booing at several town halls last year.
National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson called LaMalfa “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,” Hudson said. “Doug brought grit, authenticity, and conviction to everything he did in public service.”
C-SPAN in a recent compilation said LaMalfa gave at least one set of remarks for the record on 81 days in 2025. Only two other lawmakers spoke on the House floor more frequently.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York called for a moment of silence in honor of LaMalfa at the start of a panel at the Capitol commemorating the fifth anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.
Catalini reported from Trenton, N.J., and Freking from Washington. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville in Washington and Mark C. Robinson of the Devils Lake Journal contributed to this report.
