California Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa dies at 65

California Republican Rep. Douglas LaMalfa, known for his focus on rural and water issues and a vocal opponent of the state's public high-speed rail project, died suddenly Monday, according to House Republican leaders. He was 65.

His office called his death "unexpected" without releasing details, while some reports said he suffered a heart attack.

LaMalfa's death narrows the Republican House majority to 218-213, with two Republican and two Democratic vacancies. Democrats will hold special elections in January and April to fill their seats; Georgia has yet to schedule an election to replace Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who resigned from Congress on Monday.

LaMalfa, a fourth generation rice farmer, was a conservative Republican serving his seventh term in the House. He was a strong supporter of President Donald Trump, who in a social media post Tuesday called him a "a great, great, great member" and a "fierce champion on California water issues."

LaMalfa's office said in a statement that the congressman "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." He was sworn in for his seventh term in January 2025.

North Carolina Rep. Richard Hudson, the chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said LaMalfa was a "principled conservative" who "was never afraid to fight for rural communities, farmers, and working families [and] brought grit, authenticity, and conviction to everything he did in public service."

LaMalfa sat on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee for more than a decade where he was on the Highway and Transit subcommittee and the Water Resources and Environment and the Railroads, Pipeline and Hazardous Material subcommittees. During T&I hearings, he often raised the topic of California's high-speed rail line, criticizing it for cost overruns and delays.

"It's just an inexcusable waste of money," he said in November 2023 during a subcommittee hearing on intercity rail. "At what point do we cut this burning boat loose?" The state authority overseeing the project in December dropped its bid for federal funds.

LaMalfa also sat on the Committee on Natural Resources and was a senior member on the Committee on Agriculture. He was chair of the Congressional Western Caucus, which advocates for rural issues in the western U.S.

LaMalfa represented the mostly rural, majority Republican 1st Congressional District in northeast California along the Oregon border. He was most recently re-elected in 2024 with 65% of the vote. He had planned to run for reelection despite his district being redrawn under a ballot measure passed by California voters in November. The redistricting was aimed at making it more difficult for LaMalfa and other Republicans to win reelection.

California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom must call a special election to replace LaMalfa within 14 days. The election must take place between 126 and 140 days following the vacancy and the winner will serve out LaMalfa's term in the current district lines, not the redrawn ones, according to reports. The state's primary is set for June 2.

LaMalfa was a "devoted public servant who deeply loved his country, his state, and the communities he represented," Newsom said in a statement. "While we often approached issues from different perspectives, he fought every day for the people of California with conviction and care."

LaMalfa served 10 years in the California State Assembly and State Senate before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012.