Doug LaMalfa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Doug LaMalfa
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Official portrait, 2013
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 1st district |
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| In office January 3, 2013 – January 6, 2026 |
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| Preceded by | Mike Thompson |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| Member of the California State Senate from the 4th district |
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| In office December 6, 2010 – August 31, 2012 |
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| Preceded by | Sam Aanestad |
| Succeeded by | Jim Nielsen |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 2nd district |
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| In office December 2, 2002 – November 30, 2008 |
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| Preceded by | Richard Dickerson |
| Succeeded by | Jim Nielsen |
| Personal details | |
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Douglas Lee LaMalfa
July 2, 1960 Oroville, California, U.S. |
| Died | January 6, 2026 (aged 65) Chico, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Jill |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Butte College (attended) California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (BS) |
| Website | |
Douglas Lee LaMalfa (pronounced lə-MAL-fə; born July 2, 1960 – died January 6, 2026) was an American politician and businessman. He served as a U.S. Representative for California's 1st congressional district from 2013 until his passing in 2026.
As a member of the Republican Party, his district covered much of interior Northern California. This area included cities like Chico, Redding, and Susanville. Before serving in the U.S. House, LaMalfa was a California State Assemblyman from 2002 to 2008. He also served as a California State Senator from 2010 to 2012.
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Doug LaMalfa's Early Life and Education
Douglas Lee LaMalfa was born on July 2, 1960, in Oroville, California. He finished high school at Biggs High School in 1978. Later, he earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural business from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, in 1982. LaMalfa came from a family of rice farmers, being a fourth-generation farmer himself.
Serving in the California State Assembly
Winning Assembly Elections
In 2002, LaMalfa decided to run for the California State Assembly in the 2nd district. He won the Republican primary election with 59% of the votes. He then won the main election with 67% of the votes. Voters re-elected him in 2004 and again in 2006, each time with strong support.
Key Actions and Laws
LaMalfa supported Proposition 209, a law that changed how fairness was considered in public hiring and education in California. He also supported laws that defined marriage in a specific way. He worked to uphold these laws when they were challenged in court.
He opposed a bill that aimed to make guns traceable through a process called microstamping. However, this bill became law in 2007. LaMalfa also helped write a bill that would have allowed local police to work more closely with federal immigration agents.
In 2007, LaMalfa successfully passed a law, AB 1645. This law aimed to prevent firearms from being taken away during emergencies or natural disasters. This was an important law for gun rights supporters at the time.
Committee Work in the Assembly
While in the State Assembly, LaMalfa served on several important committees. These included:
- Joint Committee on Legislative Audit
- Public Safety
- West Nile virus
Becoming a California State Senator
2010 Election for State Senate
In 2010, LaMalfa ran for the California State Senate in the 4th District. He won the Republican primary election. In the general election, he defeated his opponent with 68% of the votes.
Important Stances as Senator
In 2011, LaMalfa spoke out against a plan for a high-speed bullet train in California. He believed the project was too expensive and not practical for the state's financial situation.
He also opposed a bill that would have required California public schools to teach about certain topics related to social history. He felt these topics were not appropriate for public school lessons. LaMalfa strongly disagreed with a plan that would change how presidential elections work by bypassing the United States Electoral College. He believed the Electoral College was important for the country's election system.
Senate Committee Roles
As a State Senator, LaMalfa was part of many committees, including:
- Agriculture
- Budget and Fiscal Review
- Elections and Constitutional Amendments (Vice Chair)
- Governance and Finance
- Natural Resources and Water (Vice Chair)
- Veterans Affairs
- Joint Committee on Legislative Audit
- Joint Committee on Fairs, Allocation, and Classification (Chair)
- Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
Winning Elections for Congress
In January 2012, the congressman for the 2nd district announced his retirement. Doug LaMalfa was quickly endorsed as his replacement. The district was renumbered as the 1st congressional district. LaMalfa won the Republican primary election in June 2012. On November 6, 2012, he won the general election, becoming a U.S. Representative.
He was re-elected several times, winning elections in 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024. In some of these elections, he faced strong competition. For example, in 2022, he faced criticism for his views on election results. Despite this, he continued to win his re-election campaigns.
Congressional Committee Work
During his time in the 119th Congress, LaMalfa served on important committees:
- Committee on Agriculture
- Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture (Chair)
- Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit
- Committee on Natural Resources
- Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs
- Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries
- Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
- Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
- Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials
- Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
Group Memberships in Congress
LaMalfa was also a member of several groups within Congress, called caucuses. These included:
- Congressional Western Caucus
- Republican Study Committee
- U.S.–Japan Caucus
- Congressional Coalition on Adoption
Doug LaMalfa's Political Views
LaMalfa was known for his conservative voting record. He often voted in ways that aligned with traditional Republican viewpoints.
Working Across the Aisle
LaMalfa was known for being friendly and approachable. He sometimes used moments like the State of the Union addresses to speak directly with presidents, even those from different political parties. For example, after President Joe Biden's 2024 State of the Union address, LaMalfa had a three-minute conversation with him.
Views on Climate Change
LaMalfa often shared his thoughts on climate change. In 2012, he said that the Earth's climate has always changed naturally. In 2017, he stated he did not believe human activities were responsible for climate change. He suggested that wildfires might be due to how land is managed, rather than climate change. In 2024, he claimed that carbon dioxide (CO2), a gas that traps heat, could not cause climate change because it makes up a very small part of the atmosphere. Scientists, however, have shown that even small amounts of CO2 can have a strong effect on climate.
Relationship with President Trump
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During President Donald Trump's first impeachment, LaMalfa voted against removing him from office. He believed Trump's actions did not warrant impeachment. After the 2020 presidential election, LaMalfa expressed concerns about the election results. He supported a lawsuit that questioned them, but the Supreme Court did not hear the case. On January 7, 2021, after a difficult event at the U.S. Capitol, LaMalfa voted to reject the election results from two states.
Stances on Equality and History
After a rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, LaMalfa stated that hateful ideas have no place in the country. He also shared his thoughts on how the government should address issues of fairness and equality. In June 2021, LaMalfa was one of a few House Republicans who voted against making Juneteenth a federal holiday. Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the United States.
Supporting Farmers
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LaMalfa was a rice farmer himself. His family farm received public assistance money from agricultural subsidies (government payments to farmers). As a member of the House Agricultural Committee, he helped oversee these subsidies. His spokesman stated that LaMalfa voted to end direct farm subsidy payments in his first farm bill. He also supported farmers' protests in India in 2020–2021.
Thoughts on Elections and Voting
LaMalfa often spoke about the importance of secure elections and voter confidence. He believed that California needed to improve its voter security.
Tax Policies
LaMalfa voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. He believed this bill would help his constituents save money and provide tax relief. He also thought it would boost the U.S. economy and encourage businesses to hire more workers.
National Defense and Immigration
In September 2021, LaMalfa was among a group of House Republicans who voted against a defense bill. This bill included a provision that would require women to be drafted into the military. He also supported legislation aimed at changing the H-1B visa program for skilled workers. This bill would have made it harder for employers to rely on this program.
Views on International Aid
In August 2023, LaMalfa was the only California Republican to vote against providing security assistance to Ukraine. He also voted to cancel $300 million in aid for Ukraine.
Doug LaMalfa's Family and Life
Doug LaMalfa was married to Jill, and they had four children together. He regularly traveled between his home in California and Washington, D.C., for his work in Congress. He owned and managed his family's rice farm in Richvale, California. While he was working in Washington, a farm manager oversaw the daily operations of the farm. LaMalfa was a Protestant.
His Passing
On January 5, 2026, LaMalfa was hospitalized after a medical emergency at his home. He was taken to Chico, California, where he had emergency surgery for an aortic aneurysm. He passed away during the surgery on January 6, 2026, at 3:20 a.m. PST, at the age of 65.
