WASHINGTON — Rep. Doug LaMalfa, a California Republican who had served in the House since 2013, has died, GOP leaders announced Tuesday. He was 65. A cause of death was not disclosed.
President Trump, addressing House Republicans, remembered LaMalfa as a “fantastic person” and a “great, great member,” saying he was saddened by the lawmaker’s passing. “He was a defender of everybody, and our hearts go out to his wife Jill and his entire family,” Trump said.
LaMalfa’s death further tightens Republican control of the House, where the GOP has been operating with a razor-thin margin. His seat immediately becomes vacant, adding to existing vacancies and complicating leadership’s ability to move legislation without near-unanimous party support.
The pressure on the margin is compounded by uncertainty surrounding Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, a senior Republican who has publicly stated she may step down from her seat. Stefanik, who previously served as chair of the House Republican Conference, represents a reliably Republican district, but her departure would create another vacancy and temporarily reduce the party’s voting strength.
With special elections required to fill any open seats, Republicans could face weeks or months with diminished numbers, increasing the leverage of small blocs of lawmakers and raising the risk of stalled votes on spending, oversight, and other must-pass legislation.
LaMalfa represented California’s 1st Congressional District, a largely rural area in the northeastern part of the state, and had served as chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus. His death removes a dependable GOP vote at a moment when House control remains numerically secure but operationally fragile.
The Defense Credit Union Council addressed LaMalfa's passing."We are deeply saddened to learn of the congressman's passing and send our prayers to his family," said DCUC Chief Advocacy Officer Jason Stverak. "As people have already noted, this makes the GOP majority in the House even more razor thin and could complicate the ability to pass any meaning legislation."
Rep Baird Injured
Also Tuesday, President Trump told House Republicans that Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN) and his wife are recovering from what he described as a “pretty bad” car accident. Trump said Baird is expected to be OK, though he emphasized the seriousness of the crash.