Rep. Doug LaMalfa, a northern California Republican and fourth-generation rice farmer on the House Agriculture Committee, died Tuesday. He was 65.
"He leaves a lasting legacy of servant leadership kindness to the North State. His humor and work effort are legendary – with one reporter once saying he’d look in the back yard of every BBQ just to see if Doug was there visiting," his office said in a statement.
"Congressman LaMalfa 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. His tragic and unexpected passing leaves a deep impact on many. He leaves behind his amazing wife Jill, four children, one grandchild, two sisters and a host of cousins."
The cause of death was not given. The Butte County Sheriff’s Office in Oroville, California, said it received a 911 call from LaMalfa’s home Monday evening regarding a medical emergency. After arrival at the hospital, “LaMalfa was taken into emergency surgery. Congressman LaMalfa passed away during the surgical procedure,” the statement said.
Politico reported that he suffered an aneurysm and a heart attack.
During a speech to House Republicans, President Donald Trump expressed “tremendous sorrow” at LaMalfa’s death and dedicated the remarks to him. “He would have wanted it that way,” the president said.
“He voted with me 100% of the time,” Trump said. He called LaMalfa a “fierce champion on California water issues.”
In a statement, House Ag Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson, R-Pa., said he had been looking forward to hosting LaMalfa at the Pennsylvania Farm Show this coming weekend.
“I have fond memories of spending time with Doug, traveling and engaging with the men and women who feed this great country. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this trying time. Be with the Lord, my brother,” Thompson said.
LaMalfa chaired House Agriculture’s Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee and also served on the Natural Resources, and Transportation and Infrastructure committees.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., said in a post on X, “Doug was a loving father and husband, and staunch advocate for his constituents and rural America."
In a separate post, the House GOP conference said, “A lifelong resident of Northern California and a fourth-generation rice farmer, Congressman LaMalfa spent more than two decades in public service. He proudly represented California’s 1st Congressional District from 2013 to 2026, serving as Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus.”
Democrats joined Republicans in expressions of grief.
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“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,” Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif., said in an X post.
LaMalfa's official bio said he was "a strong advocate for limited, constitutionally grounded government, fiscal restraint, and lower taxes. He has worked to protect families from overregulation, ensure American farmers and ranchers can continue to feed the world, and has focused recovery from natural disasters."
LaMalfa faced a difficult re-election campaign this year because of a redistricting plan California voters approved following the mid-decade redistricting carried out by Texas Republicans in 2025.
The new 1st District merged the northern rice and cattle counties LaMalfa had long represented with a region anchored by the Bay Area. LaMalfa told CNN Democrats had “skewed these district lines massively.” He worried about combining communities with drastically different viewpoints on issues such as wolves and the timber industry.
Under California law, Gov. Gavin Newsom must announce a special election schedule by Jan. 20. The actual election would likely occur in late spring or early summer.
Newsom ordered flags lowered to half staff in honor of LaMalfa.
LaMalfa's death will shrink the House GOP majority to 218-213 after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., leaves Congress on Tuesday.
Trump also confirmed that Rep. Jim Baird, R-Ind., had been hospitalized after a motor vehicle accident. His office reported Tuesday evening that Baird, who also is a member of House Ag, had been discharged.
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