Remembrances for the late Rep. Doug LaMalfa poured in Thursday in the House of Representatives.
The North State Republican was remembered by his colleagues as a warm presence in Washington. Members spoke for an hour on the House floor about the relationships they built with the farmer from Butte County.
That included bonds forged across the aisle.
"Doug and I didn’t agree on a lot of things, but we always showed up for each other.”- Jill Tokuda, U.S. House Representative
Rep. Jill Tokuda, a Democrat from Hawaii, said her friendship with LaMalfa started in the face of disaster.
“I’ll never forget Nov. 8th, 2023,” Tokuda said. “Doug stood here on this floor, and he marked five years since the Camp Fire. I was marking three months since the Lahaina Fire in Maui. And he came up and gave me a hug after and he said, ‘We’re going to get through this together.’”
I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Congressman Doug LaMalfa this morning. Doug was an exceptional legislator, a steadfast defender of the West, and a genuinely decent man.
— Rep. Jeff Hurd (@RepJeffHurd) January 6, 2026
Barbora’s and my thoughts and prayers are with Doug’s wife, Jill, and their children during… pic.twitter.com/d91VhhaYGe
Tokuda said she worked with LaMalfa on disaster funding and rural health. She remembered how he nicknamed her “Barracuda” and would bring her her favorite almonds. She brought him Spam musubis.
“Doug and I didn’t agree on a lot of things, but we always showed up for each other,” Tokuda said of the staunch conservative.
"He hated what I called LaMalfa-isms. Overcomplicated government explanations for simple things."- Jeff Hurd, U.S. House Representative
Rep. Jeff Hurd, a Republican from Colorado, said LaMalfa preferred plain language over bureaucratic jargon.
“He hated what I called LaMalfa-isms,” Hurd said. “Overcomplicated government explanations for simple things. Like saying, ‘The transportation infrastructure is undergoing a temporary operational suspension pending structural optimization.’ Instead of just saying, ‘The bridge is closed for repairs.’”
LaMalfa’s death was announced Tuesday morning. He died in emergency surgery following an unspecified medical issue.
A special election will determine who serves out the remainder of his term. Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to announce the election in the coming days.
