U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale, has died at age 65, the National Republican Congressional Committee announced Tuesday morning.
LaMalfa served as the representative for California’s 1st Congressional District, which includes the northeastern part of the state, including Chico, Redding and Yuba City.
A fourth-generation rice farmer, LaMalfa served in the California State Assembly and state Senate before being elected to Congress in 2012.
LaMalfa’s district was a focus of Proposition 50, a statewide redistricting measure that would replace congressional maps drawn by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission with new maps expected to give Democrats an advantage.
Under the proposed map, LaMalfa’s district would lose conservative strongholds such as Redding and Modoc County to the 2nd District, while gaining more Democratic-leaning areas, including Ukiah and Santa Rosa. The 2026 election was expected to be contentious, with state Senate leader Mike McGuire, D-Geyserville, considered LaMalfa’s leading challenger.
Details on the cause of LaMalfa’s death have not been announced.
So is life, death and politics. Very young
and very sad to hear. Difficult to replace experience.
Read that on X, which I don’t follow, it was sudden.
He died during surgery.
Bless him and his family. Read he died during surgery.
I just had surgery the 26th Dec and felt so blessed knowing I went in healthy, and was toldI did great
four times. Thank you Lord.
Doug, will be missed, he was a strong advocate for CA farmers, and outdoorsmen & women.
One of the few approachable Congressmen left in the State of CA that was trying to do the right thing for we the people, Doug was a true warrior, and will be dearly missed.
Prayers go out to his loved one’s and friends.
Godspeed warrior, your battle is over, rest in peace, brother, rest in peace!!!
𝕽𝖊𝖘𝖙 𝖎𝖓 𝕻𝖊𝖆𝖈𝖊