California Congressman Doug LaMalfa Dead at 65 After Emergency Surgery
In a shocking turn of events, Northern California's Republican Congressman Doug LaMalfa has passed away at the age of 65 during an emergency surgery at his home in Butte County. The news was announced by GOP Majority Whip Tom Emmer on social media, praising LaMalfa as "a loving father and husband, and staunch advocate for his constituents and rural America."
LaMalfa represented California's 1st District, which spans from Siskiyou County along the Oregon border through rural Shasta and Sutter Counties. His death comes at a time when politicians on both sides are paying their respects, as the GOP majority shrinks in the House.
According to the Butte County Sheriff's Office, LaMalfa received a call about a "medical emergency" at his home on Monday evening. He was taken to a hospital for emergency surgery, where he unfortunately succumbed to his injuries.
A cause of death is currently under investigation, but it is clear that LaMalfa's passing has sent shockwaves through the political landscape. President Trump remembered LaMalfa during a speech on Tuesday, praising him as "the leader of the Western Caucus, a fierce champion on California water issues." He described LaMalfa as someone who "was clear on what he wanted, 'release the water,' he'd scream out, and a true defender of American children."
Governor Gavin Newsom also paid tribute to LaMalfa in a post on X, saying that flags at the State Capitol would be flown at half-staff. He described LaMalfa as "a devoted public servant who deeply loved his country, his state, and the communities he represented." While they often approached issues from different perspectives, Newsom said that LaMalfa fought every day for the people of California with conviction and care.
LaMalfa's passing marks a significant blow to the GOP's majority in the House, which now stands at 218 Republicans to 213 Democrats. His district was drastically redrawn by Proposition 50, which voters approved in November.
In a statement, LaMalfa's office released this message: "Early this morning Congressman Doug LaMalfa returned home to the Lord. 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."
LaMalfa is survived by his wife Jill, four children, one grandchild, two sisters, and a host of cousins. He will be deeply missed by many who knew him, including journalists, politicians, and constituents alike.
In a shocking turn of events, Northern California's Republican Congressman Doug LaMalfa has passed away at the age of 65 during an emergency surgery at his home in Butte County. The news was announced by GOP Majority Whip Tom Emmer on social media, praising LaMalfa as "a loving father and husband, and staunch advocate for his constituents and rural America."
LaMalfa represented California's 1st District, which spans from Siskiyou County along the Oregon border through rural Shasta and Sutter Counties. His death comes at a time when politicians on both sides are paying their respects, as the GOP majority shrinks in the House.
According to the Butte County Sheriff's Office, LaMalfa received a call about a "medical emergency" at his home on Monday evening. He was taken to a hospital for emergency surgery, where he unfortunately succumbed to his injuries.
A cause of death is currently under investigation, but it is clear that LaMalfa's passing has sent shockwaves through the political landscape. President Trump remembered LaMalfa during a speech on Tuesday, praising him as "the leader of the Western Caucus, a fierce champion on California water issues." He described LaMalfa as someone who "was clear on what he wanted, 'release the water,' he'd scream out, and a true defender of American children."
Governor Gavin Newsom also paid tribute to LaMalfa in a post on X, saying that flags at the State Capitol would be flown at half-staff. He described LaMalfa as "a devoted public servant who deeply loved his country, his state, and the communities he represented." While they often approached issues from different perspectives, Newsom said that LaMalfa fought every day for the people of California with conviction and care.
LaMalfa's passing marks a significant blow to the GOP's majority in the House, which now stands at 218 Republicans to 213 Democrats. His district was drastically redrawn by Proposition 50, which voters approved in November.
In a statement, LaMalfa's office released this message: "Early this morning Congressman Doug LaMalfa returned home to the Lord. 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."
LaMalfa is survived by his wife Jill, four children, one grandchild, two sisters, and a host of cousins. He will be deeply missed by many who knew him, including journalists, politicians, and constituents alike.
just heard the news about Doug LaMalfa... so sad 
. His passing is like losing a part of rural America's voice 
. As a tech enthusiast, I think what hits me the most is how much he was passionate about California water issues 
. It's crazy to think that someone who cared so deeply about releasing water for American children 
has left us too soon. Anyway, my condolences go out to his family and loved ones 
. We'll miss him at the Capitol, but I know he'd want us to keep fighting for what we believe in 
. RIP Doug 
anyway idk why ppl still remember him as some kinda water hero lol maybe bc he was all about the "release the water" slogan 
but lets be real, thats just a fancy way of saying he cared more about the rich farmers than actual people
as a rural rep in CA 1st district 
just heard about Rep LaMalfa passing away... still can't believe it 
also feeling a bit sad that his district got redrawn after prop 50 
guess that's just how the game is played sometimes 
anyway, let's remember him as a devoted public servant who fought for what mattered most 
rural americans are gonna miss him a lot imo... i mean, all politicians can't be perfect, but it's clear he was passionate about his work & fought for what he believed in 
they're saying he was a good guy and all but i'm still skeptical about all the tributes from the gov & prez... seems like they're trying to spin something here 
anyway, his district just got redrawn by prop 50 and now they're losing their majority in the house... guess we'll see how that plays out 
but at the same time, I think we should also be talking about the bigger picture here... with all these politicians dying off, isn't it time for some change? 
also, president trump is still talking about laamalfa like he's some kinda hero 
but let's be real, the guy was a rep for california's rural areas... that's like saying the sun is a good thing for farmers who live in the city 
just got the news about Congressman LaMalfa... 65 years old is way too young. he was likeable to all sides i guess... both dems & reps praised him even though they'd disagree on everything 
. People say he was a loving father and husband but also super passionate about rural America & water issues 
. Anyway, this is gonna be an interesting time in CA politics 
Just saw the news about Doug LaMalfa 
? Anyway, RIP to a guy who seemed like a decent human being despite being a rep 
he was only 65 and already gone... it's crazy how quickly life takes us away from us. i remember when he first ran for office like 15 yrs ago and people thought he'd be a safe republicn seat but now his passing is gonna leave a huge hole in the gop majority. it's not just about politics tho, it's about the ppl who knew him and the legacy he leaves behind 