Doug LaMalfa, a Republican U.S. congressman from California, has died, lawmakers confirmed on Tuesday, January 6.
He was 65 years old.
Mr. LaMalfa served in the California State Assembly and State Senate, and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012.
“Jackie and I are devastated by the sudden loss of our friend Congressman Doug LaMalfa,” Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) posted on social media Tuesday. “Doug was a loving father and husband, and a loyal advocate for his constituents and rural America. Our prayers are with Doug’s wife Jill and their children.”
President Donald Trump expressed his condolences to LaMalfa’s family in a speech to House Republicans on January 6. President Trump said he considered canceling the speech out of respect for himself, but chose to proceed.
President Trump said he was “truly saddened by his death.” “Our hearts go out to his wife Jill and the entire family.”
President Trump praised LaMalfa for voting according to his priorities and not needing a convincing 3 a.m. call to approve the bill.
“With Doug, there was no need for me to call him,” Trump said.
LaMalfa represented Northern California’s 1st Congressional District, which stretches from the Oregon border to Shasta, Butte and Yuba counties and includes the city of Reading and areas north of Sacramento.
USA TODAY has reached out to LaMalfa’s office.
Representative Richard Hudson of North Carolina, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, also released the following statement regarding LaMalfa’s death:
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of my colleague and dear friend, Congressman Doug LaMalfa,” he said in a statement. “Doug was a principled conservative and a tireless advocate for the people of Northern California.”
LaMalfa’s death and the resignation of former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene will reduce the Republican House majority to 218-213.
Doug LaMalfa recently praised Venezuela’s attack
A fourth-generation rice farmer and operator from Northern California, LaMalfa “grew up attending local schools and learning the values of hard work and community service,” his online legislative profile says.
LaMalfa praised the Trump administration’s attack on Venezuela on social media over the weekend.
“Today’s surgical strike was an amazing display of American military power and precision. We are grateful that no Americans were lost in the operation,” the late congressman wrote in a Jan. 3 post on the X Show.
“Today’s actions send a clear message to the world and those who seek to challenge America that we will not repeat the mistakes of the past,” the post continues. “We are holding the best and deadliest in charge, not those who call on our adversaries to ‘take note’. We look forward to further briefing on the raid and the President’s plans for next steps to protect the Western Hemisphere from further crimes against freedom-loving people.”
This is a developing story.
Contributor: Joey Garrison
Natalie Neisa Alland is a senior reporter at USA TODAY. Contact her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her at X @nataliealund
