THE NEW YORK TIMES – The sudden death of Representative Doug LaMalfa, Republican of California, cast a pall over the first day of the new session of Congress on Tuesday, when House Republicans mourned their colleague and also watched their tiny majority dwindle to the bare minimum of 218 votes.
The passing of Mr. LaMalfa, 65, who died during an emergency surgery, came on the same day that the resignation of Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia took effect. That left Speaker Mike Johnson able to afford just two defections on any party-line vote, if all members are present — and in an election year, they seldom are.
It was the latest blow to Mr. Johnson’s already weak grip on a demoralized House Republican conference as the party anxiously looks toward midterm elections in which their control of the chamber is at stake.
Lawmakers who are fearful of losing the majority have complained openly about his leadership, calling him a habitual liar and routinely circumventing him to bring legislation he does not want to hold a vote on to the floor.
President Trump defended Mr. Johnson on Tuesday, but acknowledged the increasingly punishing math in the House that makes his job challenging.
“A lot of times they’ll say, ‘I wish Mike were tougher,’” Mr. Trump said while addressing House Republicans at a one-day party retreat at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
“He’s tough. He’s tough as anybody in the room, actually. But can’t be tough when you have a majority of three, and now sadly, a little bit less than that.”
In the weeks to come, it will indeed be less than that. A disproportionately large number of Republican lawmakers in the House are running for statewide offices this year, meaning that they are checked out of Washington and prioritizing time at home …
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New details and information released on the death of Congressman Doug LaMalfa
Emilio Del Carpio Jan 6, 2026 Updated Jan 6, 2026
CHICO, Calif. – Congressman Doug LaMalfa was rushed to Enloe Health in Chico on Monday after a medical emergency took place at his home in Richvale.
The Butte County Sheriff’s Office says that they received a 911 call from LaMalfa’s residence around 6:50 p.m. on Monday night. The call was transferred to medical personnel, who arrived at the scene and transported Congressman LaMalfa to the hospital.
Upon arrival at Enloe Health, LaMalfa was taken into emergency surgery, where he later passed away.
Friends close to LaMalfa told Action News Now that he had been experiencing stomach pain and then suffered from a local aortic aneurysm, a condition where part of the aorta becomes weak and balloons outward in one spot …
