Doug LaMalfa, California Republican congressman, dies aged 65

Doug LaMalfa, a California Republican who represented the state’s rural northern region in the House and was known for his work on water and forestry policy, has died at age 65, according to statements from Republican officials.

LaMalfa, a fourth-generation rice farmer who previously served in the California state legislature, was in his seventh term representing California’s first congressional district. He sat on the House agriculture, natural resources, and transportation and infrastructure committees. No cause of death has been announced.

The National Republican Congressional Committee chairman, Richard Hudson, said he was “deeply saddened by the passing of my colleague and close friend”.

“Doug was a principled conservative and a tireless advocate for the people of Northern California,” Hudson said in a statement. “He was never afraid to fight for rural communities, farmers, and working families. Doug brought grit, authenticity, and conviction to everything he did in public service.”

His sudden passing reduces the House Republican majority to 218-213, leaving GOP leadership with an even slimmer margin to pass their legislative agenda. After the departure of representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia on Monday, Republicans can now afford to lose only two votes on party-line measures.

House majority whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota paid tribute to LaMalfa in a statement posted on social media.

“Doug was a loving father and husband, and staunch advocate for his constituents and rural America,” Emmer said. “Our prayers are with Doug’s wife, Jill, and their children.”

The news of LaMalfa’s passing came minutes before Donald Trump was scheduled to speak to the House Republicans at a GOP retreat at the Kennedy Center in Washington, and Trump said he dedicated the speech to him.

“I was really saddened by his passing, and was thinking about not even doing the speech in his honor, but then decided that I have to do it in his honor,” Trump told the lawmakers. “I’ll do it in his honor, because he would have wanted it that way.”