Doug LaMalfa

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Doug LaMalfa (July 2, 1960 – January 6, 2026) was an American politician and rice farmer from California. A Republican, he served as the U.S. representative for California’s 1st congressional district from 2013 until his death in 2026. The district covers much of inland Northern California, including Chico, Redding, and Susanville.

LaMalfa grew up in Oroville, California. He graduated from Biggs High School and earned a Bachelor of Science in agricultural business from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 1982. He ran the family rice farm in Richvale and was a fourth-generation rice farmer.

Before joining Congress, LaMalfa served in California politics. He was a member of the California State Assembly from the 2nd district from 2002 to 2008, and then a state senator in the 4th district from 2010 to 2012. In the Assembly, he supported conservative measures, including Prop 8 to ban same-sex marriage and gun-rights protections. He also worked on immigration enforcement.

In the California State Senate, he opposed the high-speed rail project and took conservative positions on education and other issues. He also opposed the National Popular Vote plan that would bypass the Electoral College.

LaMalfa won a seat in the U.S. House in 2012 and was reelected several times. He supported the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and was strongly pro‑life, earning high ratings from pro‑life groups. He opposed impeaching President Trump and signed a brief backing Texas’s lawsuit related to the 2020 election. He also voted against certifying the 2020 election results for Arizona and Pennsylvania.

LaMalfa’s views on climate change were skeptical. He questioned aspects of climate science and, in 2024, made a claim about carbon dioxide that fact-checkers rejected. He was known for using State of the Union addresses to press presidents on issues and for his approachable, practical style.

Personal life: LaMalfa lived with his wife, Jill, and their four children. He commuted weekly from California to Washington, D.C., and he was a Protestant. He died on January 6, 2026, after a medical emergency and emergency surgery for an aortic aneurysm in Chico, California, at the age of 65.