Guests of Rep. Doug LaMalfa's memorial watch a slideshow before the service while seated in an overflow area on Jan. 24, 2026, at Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico, Calif.
Congressman Doug LaMalfa’s memorial was held Jan. 24 at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico.
Speakers included U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, California Assemblyman James Gallagher and Jill LaMalfa, LaMalfa’s widow, among other staffers and local officials.
The Republican representative for California 1st Congressional District was remembered as a deeply religious man who connected with his rural constituents.
LaMalfa died unexpectedly on Jan. 6 from an unspecified medical issue. A special election for his seat was set for Aug. 4. The special primary election will be on June 2.
Here’s how the memorial looked.
Erik Adams / NSPR
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson remembers Rep. Doug LaMalfa's time in Congress at the memorial for the late congressman on Jan. 24, 2026, at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico, Calif.
Erik Adams / NSPR
Protesters picket outside of Congressman Doug LaMalfa's memorial service on Jan. 24, 2026, at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico, Calif.
Erik Adams / NSPR
Rep. Doug LaMalfa's 1969 Ford Torino sits on display near the entrance of the room where guests gathered to mourn the loss of the congressman on Jan. 24, 2026, at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico, Calif.
Erik Adams / NSPR
Guests write messages to honor Rep. Doug LaMalfa before entering the memorial space on Jan. 24, 2026, at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico, Calif.
Erik Adams / NSPR
Rep. Doug LaMalfa's widow, Jill LaMalfa, and family tell stories about the late congressman at a memorial on Jan. 24, 2026, at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico, Calif.
Erik Adams / NSPR
Memorial attendees listen to speakers reminisce about Congressman Doug LaMalfa on Jan. 24, 2026, at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico, Calif.
Erik Adams / NSPR
Event staff direct guests to their seats before the memorial for Rep. Doug LaMalfa begins on Jan. 24, 2026, at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico, Calif.
Erik Adams / NSPR
California Assemblyman James Gallagher honors Rep. Doug LaMalfa at the late congressman's memorial on Jan. 24, 2026, at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico, Calif.
Erik Adams / NSPR
An official with the Butte County Sheriff's Office stands guard next to Congressman Doug LaMalfa's casket, where a a bushel of rice and a cowboy hat sat atop, on Jan. 24, 2026, at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico, Calif.
Erik began his role as NSPR's Butte County government reporter in September of 2023 as part of UC Berkeley's California Local News Fellowship. He received his bachelor's degree in Journalism from Cal State LA earlier that year.
