U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., died suddenly in the early morning of Jan. 6 following a medical emergency at his home, according to reports from the Chico Enterprise-Record and The Sacramento Bee.
LaMalfa, who had represented California’s 1st congressional district since 2013, was a fourth-generation rice farmer who lived in Northern California his entire life, according to his official House webpage. He was unanimously elected in 2025 as chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, the second-largest membership organization in Congress, focused on addressing rural issues.
“As a farmer, Rep. LaMalfa was a stalwart defender of the agriculture industry, with a deep understanding of the needs and challenges faced by rural communities,” Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia said in a statement.
“He was a dedicated public servant who stepped into the arena, both during his tenure in the California legislature and later in the U.S. Congress, for all the right reasons,” Puglia continued. “It was never about Doug. It was always about his constituents, his rural communities, and working for common sense policies. He worked hard and never let the frustrations of this era of sharp partisanship deter him from pressing on. The members and staff of Western Growers send our deepest condolences to Doug’s family, friends and staff. He will be greatly missed.”
Westlands Water District similarly mourned LaMalfa’s passing and extended its condolences to his family, calling him a “steadfast advocate for California’s agricultural communities” who worked for “common-sense reforms to reduce wildfire risk, increase storage capacity, and maximize water deliveries while protecting our state’s resources.”
“As a farmer, Congressman LaMalfa understood that water is the lifeblood of the Valley that allows our farmers to feed the nation,” Allison Febbo, general manager of Westlands Water District, said in a statement. “His commitment to practical solutions and advocacy for growers and rural communities will leave a lasting impact.”
The California Farm Bureau called LaMalfa a champion of agriculture and rural California in its statement.
“He was proud to represent agriculture and the rural communities of Northern California, bringing the voice of farmers and ranchers to every forum he entered and wearing his deep roots in farming with humility and pride,” said CFB President Shannon Douglass.
“As a lifelong Northern California rice farmer and business owner, Doug never lost touch with his family’s multigeneration farming heritage,” Douglass added. “He invested in the people he represented — advancing their communities, their causes and their way of life — because he lived that way of life himself.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered flags to be flown at half-staff at the state Capitol and Capitol Annex Swing Space in honor of LaMalfa.
“Congressman Doug LaMalfa was a devoted public servant who deeply loved his country, his state, and the communities he represented,” Newsom said in a statement. “While we often approached issues from different perspectives, he fought every day for the people of California with conviction and care. He will be deeply missed.”
LaMalfa earned a degree in agriculture business degree from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He was elected to the California State Assembly and California State Senate before being elected to the U.S. House.
