California State Assembly candidate Dom Belza announced on July 10 the death of his 11-year-old daughter Rylee Rose.
Rylee died July 8 from complications related to leukemia, Belza said in a Facebook post.
“Rylee courageously fought T-cell leukemia for the last several months,” Belza said. “Although she was showing great progress in her treatments and battle, she succumbed to secondary diseases in the end.”
T-cell leukemia is a blood and bone marrow cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Belza said Rylee had a “strong faith and relationship with God” and was the “bravest girl you’d ever known.”
“She loved her family, softball, fishing, her friends, her Church, and the Lord,” he said.
Belza said donations to the Rylee Belza Memorial Fund will support her memorial services and local families battling childhood cancer.
Belza, a Republican from Marysville, is running for the 3rd State Assembly District, which includes Butte, Glenn, Placer, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba counties.
He advanced to the November general election with 45% of the vote in the June 2 primary. His opponent, Republican Jamie Johansson, received 29%. Republican Andrew Coolidge failed to advance with 26%.
There was no indication in Belza’s post that he planned to leave the race. His campaign Facebook page reposted Belza’s announcement.
Belza referenced Rylee’s health during a speech at his election-night watch party at The Palms in Chico.
He said his campaign entered 2026 “energized” to get into the primary.
“And just a couple weeks after filing filing papers, we got news that my daughter over here was in a fight for her life,” Belza said.
He added: “You get into the busiest season of life, and then something like that hits. And that’s when the rubber meets the road, so to speak.”
The 3rd District Assembly seat was formerly held by Republican Congressman James Gallagher.
Gallagher said in a July 10 Facebook post that Rylee was a “bright light,” and he asked for prayers for the Belza family.
“We know she is with Our Savior in eternal glory but her passing leaves us all with heavy hearts,” Gallagher said.
