Northern California Rep. Doug LaMalfa Dies at 65
CalMatters••nation
Key Points:
- Rep. Doug LaMalfa, a 65-year-old Republican representing California’s rural 1st Congressional District, died unexpectedly during emergency surgery, triggering a special election to fill his seat before the November midterms.
- His death reduces the GOP’s narrow House majority to 218 seats, meaning Republicans can only afford to lose two members on party-line votes.
- The special election will use the current Republican-leaning district map, but the November general election will be held under new Democratic-leaning boundaries approved by Proposition 50, complicating the political landscape.
- Potential Republican successors include Assemblymember James Gallagher and former Sen. Brian Dahle, with the GOP aiming to avoid a runoff by uniting behind a single candidate
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