Doug LaMalfa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Doug LaMalfa
Official portrait, 2019
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 1st district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2013
Preceded by	Mike Thompson
Member of the California State Senate from the 4th district
In office December 6, 2010 – August 31, 2012
Preceded by	Sam Aanestad
Succeeded by	Jim Nielsen
Member of the California State Assembly from the 2nd district
In office December 2, 2002 – November 30, 2008
Preceded by	Richard Dickerson
Succeeded by	Jim Nielsen
Personal details
Born	Douglas Lee LaMalfa (1960-07-02) July 2, 1960 (age 65) Oroville, California, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Jill LaMalfa
Children	4
Education	Butte College California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (BS)
Website	<br

Douglas Lee LaMalfa (born July 2, 1960) is an American politician. He has been a U.S. representative for California's 1st congressional district since 2013. He is a member of the Republican Party. His district covers much of northern California, including cities like Chico and Redding.

Before becoming a U.S. Representative, LaMalfa served in the California state government. He was a California State Assemblyman from 2002 to 2008. He also served as a California State Senator from 2010 to 2012.

Early Life and Education

LaMalfa grew up in Northern California. His family has been farming rice for four generations. He went to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. There, he earned a degree in agricultural business.

Serving in the California Assembly

Doug LaMalfa first became a state politician in 2002. He ran for the California Assembly in the 2nd District.

Winning Elections for the Assembly

In 2002, LaMalfa won the Republican primary election with 59% of the votes. He then won the main election with 67% of the votes. People reelected him in 2004 and 2006, each time with about 68% of the votes.

Key Actions as an Assemblyman

LaMalfa receiving an award from FRC President Tony Perkins

LaMalfa supported Proposition 209. This law ended certain programs that gave special treatment based on race in California. He also supported laws that defined marriage in a specific way.

He worked to pass AB 1645 in 2007. This law helps prevent firearms from being taken away during emergencies or natural disasters. This was an important law for gun rights supporters in California.

Assembly Committee Roles

While in the Assembly, LaMalfa worked on several important committees:

• Joint Committee on Legislative Audit
• Public Safety
• West Nile virus

Serving in the California Senate

In 2010, LaMalfa decided to run for the California State Senate. He aimed to represent the 4th District.

Winning the Senate Election

In the Republican primary, he won against another State Assemblyman, Rick Keene. LaMalfa received 58% of the votes. In the general election, he won with 68% of the votes.

Important Issues as a Senator

As a State Senator, LaMalfa spoke out on several big issues. In 2011, he was against a plan for a bullet train in California. He believed the state could not afford it.

He also opposed a bill that would require California public schools to teach about the history of certain social movements. He felt this was not the right kind of topic for public schools.

LaMalfa was strongly against the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. This plan would change how presidential elections work by bypassing the Electoral College. He believed the Electoral College was important for how the country elects its president.

Senate Committee Roles

LaMalfa was part of many committees in the State Senate:

• 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

In 2012, Doug LaMalfa ran for the United States House of Representatives. He sought to represent California's 1st congressional district.

Winning House Elections

2012 Election

The previous representative, Wally Herger, decided to retire. LaMalfa ran to take his place. In the June 2012 primary election, LaMalfa came in first with 38% of the votes. He won in 10 out of the 11 counties in the district. In the main election on November 6, 2012, LaMalfa won with 57% of the votes.

2014 Election

LaMalfa won reelection in 2014. He defeated his Democratic opponent with 61% of the votes.

2016 Election

In 2016, LaMalfa was reelected again. He won with 59.1% of the votes against Jim Reed.

2018 Election

Many candidates ran in the 2018 primary election. LaMalfa and Audrey Denney were the top two candidates. LaMalfa won the primary with 51.7% of the votes. In the general election, LaMalfa defeated Denney with 54.9% of the votes.

2020 Election

LaMalfa had a rematch with Audrey Denney in 2020. He won reelection with 57.0% of the votes.

2022 Election

In 2022, LaMalfa defeated Max Steiner. He won with 62.1% of the votes. During this campaign, Steiner questioned LaMalfa's support for claims about the 2020 presidential election.

2024 Election

LaMalfa won reelection in 2024. He defeated Rose Penelope Yee with 65.3% of the votes.

House Committee Roles

For the 119th Congress, LaMalfa serves on several 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

Caucus Memberships

LaMalfa is also a member of several groups within Congress:

• Congressional Western Caucus
• Republican Study Committee
• U.S.-Japan Caucus
• Congressional Coalition on Adoption

Political Views and Actions

Doug LaMalfa has clear views on many political topics.

Views on Climate Change

LaMalfa has expressed different ideas about climate change. He has said that the Earth's climate has always changed naturally. He has also stated that he does not believe human activities are the main cause of climate change. He suggests that wildfires might be due to how land is managed.

Views on Donald Trump

LaMalfa with President Donald Trump in November 2018

During President Donald Trump's first impeachment, LaMalfa voted against it. He believed Trump's actions did not require impeachment.

After the 2020 election, LaMalfa claimed there were issues with the election results. He was one of many Republican representatives who supported a lawsuit questioning the election results. The Supreme Court did not hear the case. On January 7, 2021, after events at the U.S. Capitol, LaMalfa voted to reject the certification of some electoral votes.

Views on Farming

LaMalfa with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue (left), August 2018

LaMalfa with fellow Representatives Drew Ferguson (left) and Roger Marshall (right) in an agriculture meeting, December 2018

LaMalfa is a rice farmer himself. His farm has received money from government agricultural programs. As a member of the House Agricultural Committee, he helps oversee these programs. His spokesman has said that LaMalfa voted to end certain direct farm payments. He also supported the 2020–2021 Indian farmers' protest.

Views on Marriage

LaMalfa has stated his belief that marriage is between a man and a woman. He has voted against bills that would protect the right to same-sex marriage at a federal level.

Views on Taxes

LaMalfa voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. He said this bill would help his constituents save money and give them tax relief. He believed it would boost the U.S. economy and help businesses hire more workers.

Views on Defense

In September 2021, LaMalfa was among 75 House Republicans who voted against the National Defense Authorization Act of 2022. This bill included a part that would require women to be drafted.

Views on Ukraine

In August 2023, Doug LaMalfa voted to stop all security assistance to Ukraine. He also voted to cancel $300 million in aid for Ukraine.

Electoral History

Personal Life

Doug LaMalfa is married to Jill LaMalfa, and they have four children. He travels weekly between California and Washington, D.C., for his work. He owns and manages his family's rice farm in Richvale, California. A farm manager helps run the farm when LaMalfa is in Washington.

LaMalfa has given a lot of money to his own campaigns and other Republican causes. As of 2018, his net worth was nearly $3.5 million. He is a Protestant.