California lawmaker James Gallagher announces run for Doug LaMalfa’s seat in Congress

California Assemblyman James Gallagher has announced his bid to serve the remainder of late Congressman Doug LaMalfa’s vacant seat in the House of Representatives, according to a press release that came out this morning. 

After LaMalfa’s sudden passing last week, the question arose about who would fill the rest of the representative’s term, a period of less than eight months. According to Shasta Scout reporting published two days ago, Gallagher was projected to be likely to emerge as a frontrunner for the role that could play a pivotal role in national politics given the razor-thin margin between Republicans and Democrats in the House.

LaMalfa represented congressional District 1, which includes much of the North State. Gallagher is currently holding a role in the California State Assembly which represents parts of the North State including Butte, Glenn, Placer, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties. A significant swath of voters that Gallagher currently represents as a state politician are the same as those he could represent on Capitol Hill if he were to win LaMalfa’s vacant seat.  

It’s likely that a special primary election will be held in late March to fill LaMalfa’s seat through the end of the year when his term ends. If no one candidate takes more than 50% of the votes in the primary, a second special general election is likely to be held in June. Specific dates for those elections have not yet been released by Gov. Gavin Newsom. 

In the Republican assemblyman’s press release, he said LaMalfa was his mentor and friend. 

“Doug’s focus was always on his constituents and the American values he cherished so deeply,” Gallagher said in the release. “His death was a shock to all of us, and leaves a great void of leadership here in the North State. After much prayer and reflection with my own family, and with the LaMalfa family, and hearing from many of you, I have decided I will seek election to serve out the remaining months of Doug’s term.”

He also said he has the support of LaMalfa’s wife, Jill, who provided a statement in the press release. 

“In the midst of our sadness and navigation of such a profound loss,” she said, “I find myself very concerned about who may replace Doug as our Representative in Washington, DC … James will put ‘his hat in the ring’( a ‘Dougism’) and is willing to finish Doug’s current term through to January 1, 2027. The kids and I believe this is what Doug would have wanted. James has our full support.”

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