Rep. Doug LaMalfa of California dies, reducing GOP's narrow control of the House to 218-213

Rep. Doug LaMalfa of California dies, reducing GOP's narrow control of the House to 218-213

KEVIN FREKING and MIKE CATALINI

Tue, January 6, 2026 at 2:56 PM UTC

1 min read

FILE - Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., a member of the House Agriculture Committee, arrives for a closed-door meeting with Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and fellow Republicans, at the Capitol in Washington, June 13, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

FILE - In this image from video, Rep. Doug LaMalfa. R-Calif., speaks on the floor of the House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, April 23, 2020. (House Television via AP, FIle)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

FILE - Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., speaks during a press conference in Chico, Calif., , Oct. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, FIle)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

FILE - President Joe Biden, left, greets Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., after delivering the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol, March 7, 2024, in Washington. (Shawn Thew/Pool via AP, FIle)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Obit Doug LaMalfa

FILE - Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., a member of the House Agriculture Committee, arrives for a closed-door meeting with Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and fellow Republicans, at the Capitol in Washington, June 13, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Doug LaMalfa, a seven-term U.S. representative from California, has died, GOP officials said Tuesday. He was 65.

His death, confirmed by Majority Whip Tom Emmer and National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson, reduces the Republicans’ already narrow control of the House to 218 seats to Democrats’ 213.

Details surrounding LaMalfa’s death were unclear.

LaMalfa represented Northern California’s 1st District, along the Oregon border, including Redding and reaching just north of Sacramento. He 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.

“Doug was a principled conservative and a tireless advocate for the people of Northern California,” Hudson said. “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.”

LaMalfa was a former state lawmaker and rice farmer. He was first elected to Congress in 2012.

He was a regular presence on the House floor, helping GOP leadership open the chamber and offer his view local and national affairs.

C-SPAN in a recent compilation said he 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.

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Catalini reported from Trenton, N.J.

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