At town hall in Red Bluff, Congressman LaMalfa draws mixed reactions from crowd of about 200

Congressman Doug LaMalfa held two rare town halls yesterday, the first in Chico and the second in nearby Red Bluff, where a crowd of about 200 gathered in the Red Bluff Community Center under draped cloths and a chandelier to hear him speak. 

LaMalfa referenced security early on at the event, thanking the Tehama Sheriff and Red Bluff police for showing up, noting the poor reception he’d received at his last event earlier that day.

“Too bad that we maybe have to have as much security as seems like this time, but… we’re ahead of how things went this morning, down 45 miles or so from here, as far as politeness.”

He went on to say that all views are welcome, but asked that they be presented in a way that’s civil and constructive. His admonishment provoked a vocal rebuke from the crowd, many of whom expressed in public comments throughout the evening that they feel LaMalfa’s leadership has been anything but constructive.

The congressman faced questions that included national topics like the effects of Medicare cuts on rural hospitals. LaMalfa blamed the rising costs of healthcare and what he perceives as over-regulation of the healthcare industry, effectively shifting blame to issues he has no control over. 

International conflict comes up in the North State

Responding to questions on the topic of the mass killing and imposed starvation of Palestinians in Gaza, LaMalfa oriented his answers around Israeli interests. He claimed that Israel was “peacefully minding its own business” when attacked by Hamas on October 7 despite the fact that the Israeli army has bombed Gaza five times between 2005 and Hamas’ latest assault.

He also said Israeli taxpayers “shouldn’t have to take care of this group of people,” referring to them as “Palestinians or Gazans or whatever you want to call the group.” 

“Israel has a right to defend itself,” LaMalfa continued, amid yells and boos from many in the crowd who waved red papers when they disagreed with the statements being made and green papers to show support for the comments of LaMalfa or others.

The approximately 63,000 people – including 17,000 children – who have been killed by Israel are indeed Palestinians living in Gaza, and according to most of the United Nations, have the legal right to self determination. Almost every country in the world formally recognizes Palestinian statehood. Scholars of international law have argued that as an occupying power, Israel does have the legal obligation to protect Palestinians living under hypermilitarized conditions. Since Israel’s formation in 1948, it has been the largest recipient of American economic and military aid, totaling over $300 billion.  

“You want me to say it’s a genocide,” LaMalfa continued. “It’s not a genocide.” 

Since the start of the war, several Israeli politicians have expressed genocidal intent regarding the eradication of Gaza, much of which constituted South Africa’s case in the International Court of Justice against Israel for committing genocide. The ICJ ruled in 2024 that it is “plausible” that Israel is committing genocide, and human rights organizations around the world – including Israeli ones – have used the term unambiguously. 

Multiple attendees expressed their concerns about the rights of Palestinians. One speaker also made an antisemitic remark, holding American Jews responsible for the actions of the nation of Israel and suggesting that the United States should move all Jewish people to Greenland. His comment was met with immediate laughter interspersed with some murmurs of uncertainty and concern while a law enforcement officer standing near a Shasta Scout reporter asked aloud, “did they actually just talk about rounding up the Jews?”

Other national flashpoints 

LaMalfa also fielded questions about the Epstein files. He defended his vote not to release them, saying he supports full transparency but is also concerned about protecting the victims that might be exposed by releasing the documents. The Wall Street Journal reported that President Trump was told by Attorney General Pam Bondi that his name may also appear in the files. His administration hasn’t denied that he may be named, but disputed the initial Wall Street Journal reporting about Bondi’s briefing as “fake news.” 

In response to questions on climate change, LaMalfa responded “The climate does change… what this really boils down to is that there’s folks that want it to be blamed on human activity.” The global scientific consensus on climate change does blame human activity. In response to murmurs from the crowd over LaMalfa’s response, one Tehama resident yelled back at the crowd, saying they were apparently angry at math and science.

65-year-old LaMalfa wore a casual suit jacket and metal-tipped cowboy boots as he stood on stage. He had difficulty hearing many of the questions he was asked on microphone, frequently turning his head and body in attempts to hear the speakers and at times staring blankly in response when he didn’t realize a speaker’s comment had ended. 

During one such episode, his lack of reaction prompted someone to yell out from the crowd, “He has a brain worm!” as LaMalfa stood silently. The comment was a reference to a medical issue that’s been reported by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Local issues

In addition to the bigger national issues, LaMalfa also faced comments and questions specific to the rural North State, many from Tehama residents. One community member spoke with passion about the challenges he’s facing as a result of a recent increase in California’s wolf population, a concern LaMalfa expressed significant interest in. An elderly mobile home occupant asked if LaMalfa could do anything about rent stabilization for such properties. LaMalfa responded by saying rent stabilization is “a disincentive for people to own and operate mobile homes.” 

A third asked if he would address water issues in the North State expressing widely felt concerns that too much water is diverted to farmers and wealthy land owners farther south, including the congressman himself. “The quick answer is,” LaMalfa said, “build more water storage.”

A heckler yelled out a retort from the crowd. “It’s called oligarchy!” 

According to 2024 financial disclosure reports, LaMalfa owns shares in rice farms in Butte County, including the DSL Farming Partnership valued at over $1 million. Rice farms are the recipients of federal subsidies, and since 1995, the DSL LaMalfa family partnership has received $5.7 million. Federal investment in American rice production is expected to continue after the passage of the LaMalfa-supported One Big Beautiful Bill, which included cuts to Medicaid that may have direct and negative effects on rural hospitals in LaMalfa’s congressional district. 

At least a few dozen attendees came from nearby Shasta County, where LaMalfa has not yet announced an upcoming town hall. One asked whether the congressman would be willing to respond to the Shasta County board of supervisors and their alleged repeated Brown Act violations. LaMalfa punted, citing correctly that the Brown Act is a state issue, not a federal one. 

He told the public he was happy to be in Red Bluff, saying he actually enjoys doing town halls up and down California’s District 1. One speaker chastised LaMalfa, saying the congressman should have felt ashamed to have shown up to lecture the crowd about being responsible and civil. 

“You have a lot of gall to put your hand over your heart to that flag and say ‘justice for all and liberty for all,'” the commenter said, noting that he believes LaMalfa violated his oath of office and loyalty to the constitution when he voted not to certify the electoral college votes that made Joe Biden president in 2020.

“But you have loyalty,” the commenter continued. “You have loyalty to an adjudicated rapist, to a felon, to somebody who mocks people in wheelchairs, to somebody who mocks women.”

Nevin Kallepalli contributed to this story.

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