BREAKING: GOP Congressman Passes Away

Republican Congressman Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) has passed away at 65.

Minority whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) shared his condolences early Tuesday morning and confirmed the reports of LaMalfa’s unexpected passing.

“Jacquie and I are devastated about the sudden loss of our friend, Congressman Doug LaMalfa,” Emmer wrote on X. “Doug was a loving father and husband, and staunch advocate for his constituents and rural America. Our prayers are with Doug’s wife, Jill, and their children.”

LaMalfa, a fourth-generation rice farmer who carried Northern California’s agricultural roots all the way to Congress, was a lifelong resident of the state and one of its most forceful voices in Washington.

Doug LaMalfa spent his life in rural Northern California, where he was raised in a farming family that traced its roots back generations. He attended local schools and grew up working the land, learning early lessons about hard work, self-reliance, and service to his community.

LaMalfa later earned a degree in agricultural business from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, blending practical farming experience with formal training that would shape both his business career and his approach to public service. He went on to work as a rice farmer and business owner, remaining closely tied to the region’s agriculture- and resource-based economy.

Known as a blunt and persistent advocate for his constituents, LaMalfa built his political career around defending farmers, ranchers, and small businesses in California’s vast First District. Supporters said he never forgot where he came from and carried rural concerns into every level of government he served.

Before heading to Washington, LaMalfa was elected to the California State Assembly and later the State Senate, where he developed a reputation as a reliable conservative voice on water, land use, and economic issues affecting rural communities. In 2012, voters sent him to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he represented the sprawling Northern California district for more than a decade.

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