Republican Assemblymember James Gallagher announced Wednesday that he’ll run in the special election to fill the vacancy left by the death of Congressman Doug LaMalfa.
Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to announce the special election soon. It’ll be held under old congressional district lines that favor Republicans, and includes Chico and Redding.
If elected, Gallagher would serve until January 2027.
Here’s what you should know.
Why is Gallagher running for Congress now?
LaMalfa died during emergency surgery at Enloe Health in Chico early Jan. 6, leaving the North State without a representative in Washington. He had represented the state’s 1st Congressional District for more than a decade.
In a press release, Gallagher referred to LaMalfa as a mentor and friend.
He said if elected to serve out the remainder of LaMalfa’s term, he plans to continue the late congressman’s legacy and serve as a strong voice for the North State.
What does LaMalfa’s wife say about James Gallagher’s run?
Jill LaMalfa said in the release that she prayed over who might be best to fill the vacant seat. She said Gallagher has her full support.
“The kids and I believe this is what Doug would have wanted,” she said.
Will the special election use California’s new congressional district maps?
The special election to fill the remainder of LaMalfa’s term will not use the new congressional district lines that favor Democrats and were approved by voters in November as part of Proposition 50, CalMatters reported.
Instead, the existing congressional map for California’s 1st District that stretches from Yuba County to the Oregon border will be used. It includes the counties of Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou and Tehama.
LaMalfa’s district was redrawn as part of Prop. 50, and the new maps will be used for this year’s midterm elections, according to the California Secretary of State’s office. A federal court Wednesday upheld the new maps, increasing Democrats’ chances of gaining control of the U.S. House.
Who is James Gallagher?
Gallagher is a politician and farmer who’s represented California’s 3rd Assembly District since 2014.
Gallagher lives in Sutter County, and served on the county’s board of supervisors for six years before becoming an assemblyman, according to his assembly biography.
He has a law degree from UC Davis and bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley.
NSPR Reporter Andre Byik contributed reporting.
