Long-serving United States Representative Doug LaMalfa, who represented parts of Northern California and chaired the influential Congressional Western Caucus, has passed away at the age of 65, sending shockwaves through Capitol Hill and reshaping the balance of power in the US House of Representatives.
LaMalfa’s death reduces the Republican majority in the House to 218 seats against 213 for Democrats, tightening an already fragile margin as lawmakers enter the second half of the 119th Congress.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota confirmed the congressman’s passing in a post on X, describing the loss as sudden and deeply personal.
“Jacquie and I are heartbroken over the unexpected loss of our friend, Congressman Doug LaMalfa. Doug was a devoted father and husband, as well as a strong advocate for his constituents and rural America. Our thoughts are with Doug’s wife, Jill, and their children,” Emmer said.
LaMalfa was widely known on Capitol Hill as a committed conservative voice and a staunch defender of rural communities, agriculture, and water rights in the American West. Colleagues across party lines often remarked on his calm demeanor and respectful treatment of reporters and fellow lawmakers.
His death, coming shortly after the resignation of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, leaves House Republicans with almost no room for error. Party leaders can now afford to lose only two votes when attempting to pass legislation strictly along party lines, a reality that complicates efforts to advance major policy priorities.
Tributes poured in from Republican leaders across the country as news of LaMalfa’s passing spread on Tuesday morning.
Richard Hudson of North Carolina, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, described him as “a principled conservative and a relentless advocate for the people of Northern California,” adding that LaMalfa consistently stood up for rural communities, farmers, and working families with conviction and authenticity.
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California Republican Rep. Young Kim also paid tribute, calling LaMalfa “a genuinely kind and decent man who treated everyone with warmth and respect,” and noting that his leadership and steady presence would be deeply missed.
The news comes as House Republicans gather in Washington, DC, for a full day of policy meetings at the newly renamed Trump Kennedy Center. President Donald Trump is expected to address GOP lawmakers on Tuesday morning, as the party confronts both legislative challenges and the loss of a veteran lawmaker whose influence extended well beyond his district.
Doug LaMalfa’s death marks the end of a significant chapter for Northern California representation in Congress and adds fresh uncertainty to an already tense political landscape in Washington.
