Overview
- Butte County authorities reported a Jan. 5 medical emergency at LaMalfa’s residence; he was taken to Enloe Hospital in Chico and died during emergency surgery, with the cause under coroner investigation.
- His death reduces Republicans’ advantage in the House to 218–213 after Marjorie Taylor Greene’s resignation, leaving Speaker Mike Johnson only two GOP defections to spare on party-line votes.
- California law requires Gov. Gavin Newsom to call a special election to fill the 1st District vacancy, a contest that will affect the chamber’s tight vote math.
- President Donald Trump paid tribute to LaMalfa during a House GOP gathering, while Democrats observed a moment of silence at the Capitol.
- LaMalfa represented Northern California’s 1st District since 2013 and chaired the Congressional Western Caucus, earning recognition for work on agriculture, water and wildfire policy.