GOP Congressman Doug LaMalfa Dies at 65

Congressman Doug LaMalfa, a proud representative of rural Northern California and one of the fiercest advocates for American agriculture and water rights, has passed away at the age of 65. The news was confirmed Tuesday by House Republican leadership, sending shockwaves through Capitol Hill and his home district in California’s 1st Congressional District.

A fourth-generation rice farmer and lifelong resident of Butte County, LaMalfa brought the values of faith, family, and freedom into every fight he took on in Washington. First elected to Congress in 2012, he served until his death in 2026 and most recently chaired the Congressional Western Caucus, where he led the charge on issues often ignored by coastal elites water rights, farming, forestry, and resource access.

“House Republicans mourn the loss of Congressman Doug LaMalfa,” leadership said in a statement. “He spent more than two decades in public service… He proudly represented California’s 1st Congressional District.”

President Donald Trump paid tribute to LaMalfa with heartfelt remarks, calling him a “great, great, great member,” and praised his passionate work on Western water policy:

“He wanted release the water, he’d scream and a true defender of American children, he was a defender of everybody,” Trump said. “He would have wanted us to keep fighting.”

LaMalfa’s colleagues echoed the grief and respect felt across the conservative movement.

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who once roomed with LaMalfa in Sacramento, called him a “commonsense rice farmer through and through.”

“Doug was first and foremost a devoted husband and father, inspired by his Christian faith and values,” McCarthy wrote on X. “He fought tirelessly for family farms, stood up to government waste, and never forgot who he worked for: the people.”

“He will be truly missed,” McCarthy added. “I share my prayers and condolences with Jill, their children, and the entire LaMalfa team.”

GOP Whip Tom Emmer described LaMalfa as a loyal friend and a relentless advocate for rural America “Doug was a loving father and husband, and a staunch advocate for his constituents.”

Throughout his time in Congress, LaMalfa was a strong voice against bloated federal overreach, famously taking aim at California’s wasteful high-speed rail project, and pushing back against radical environmental policies that punished farmers and loggers while rewarding bureaucrats.

• He championed Second Amendment rights, consistently opposing gun control measures pushed by the Left.

• He was a leading defender of pro-life legislation, standing firm on protecting unborn children.

• And he remained a principled fiscal conservative, demanding accountability in federal spending.

LaMalfa’s sudden death leaves a deep void in Congress but his legacy of faith, grit, and unapologetic service to the people will not be forgotten. He didn’t just talk about American values he lived them, every single day.

A husband, father, and true representative of the land he loved Doug LaMalfa was the kind of leader Washington needs more of, not fewer.

Join us in praying for his wife Jill, their children, and the entire LaMalfa family. And take a moment to share this story in honor of a man who never stopped fighting for the forgotten corners of this country.

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