SAN FRANCISCO — California Republican Congressman Doug LaMalfa has died at 65 years old.
GOP Majority Whip Tom Emmer announced his death on social media, praising him as “a loving father and husband, and staunch advocate for his constituents and rural America.”
Speaker Johnson’s office confirms the news to ABC and said the speaker has been notified about the congressman’s sudden death.
NRCC Chairman Richard Hudson confirmed the news in a statement. “I am deeply saddened by the passing of my colleague and close friend, Congressman Doug LaMalfa,” Hudson said.
LaMalfa represented California’s 1st District, which spans from Siskiyou County along the Oregon border through rural Shasta and Sutter Counties.
His district was drastically redrawn by Proposition 50. The GOP already held a slim majority in the House, now standing at 218 Republicans to 213 Democrats.
LaMalfa also served as chair of the Congressional Western Caucus.
There’s no word on how he died.
ABC News contributed to this story.
