California Assemblyman James Gallagher has announced he will run in the special election to fill the late Rep. Doug LaMalfa’s U.S. House seat, stepping forward with the endorsement and support of LaMalfa’s family and promising to defend North State values against Governor Gavin Newsom’s policies.
Gallagher, a Republican and the Assembly minority leader, framed his decision as both personal and civic after meeting with the LaMalfa family and consulting with his own. He made clear he intends to finish the remainder of LaMalfa’s term and serve the district’s interests in Washington, representing constituents who feel ignored by the state’s current leadership.
Today, California State Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-AD3) announced he will be a candidate in the upcoming Special Election in the First Congressional District to fill the vacancy created by the tragic death of Congressman Doug LaMalfa.
“Doug La Malfa was my mentor, friend and a representative of the People in the truest sense of the word. Doug’s focus was always his constituents and the American values he cherished so deeply,” said Gallagher. “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. I will be a candidate in the Special Election for Congress in the First District.”
Jill LaMalfa has publicly supported Gallagher and communicated her belief that he will carry forward Doug LaMalfa’s work with continuity and respect for the district. Her statement emphasized family, prayer, and a shared conviction that Gallagher and his wife understand the sacrifice public service demands, especially while raising a young family.
In the midst of our sadness and navigation of such a profound loss, I find myself very concerned about who may replace Doug as our Representative in Washington, D.C. The tireless work and unimaginable hours spent away from family by Doug and his entire staff, cannot be left to end in vain.
I believe I am called to pull in and help access healing in our family as we find our way through the heartache and emptiness. Through much prayer, I believe there is a way forward. A way that leaves very little to change from how Doug would have done it, the way he would have cared for all of you in the 1st Congressional District of California.
James and Janna Gallagher and I have spent much time talking and praying about this decision. It’s a huge ask of them, especially while raising their young family. They well-know what leadership requires of them, and they have agreed this is the next place for them to serve. 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.
Gallagher’s entry into the race is being framed as a natural fit for a district that has long pushed back against Sacramento’s direction under Newsom. Local voters consistently complain about forest mismanagement, water policy failures, and threats to agriculture, and Gallagher positions himself as someone who will take those complaints to Congress instead of bowing to state-level politics.
Serving his final Assembly term due to term limits, Gallagher brings a record of outspoken resistance to policies he and his constituents view as harmful. He is known for directly challenging Democratic supermajorities in Sacramento and for prioritizing rural priorities like forest health, water security, and support for farming communities.
“There will never be another Doug LaMalfa; he was one of a kind, but I feel like I have the ability and support of people to do that mission as best I can”.
California law requires the governor to call a special election within a short window, and officials expect the timeline to move quickly so the seat is filled for the remainder of the term. Gallagher has made clear he will compete to finish the term through January 2027 and is weighing whether to seek a subsequent full term amid recent redistricting shifts that altered District 1’s boundaries.
Community leaders and conservative activists in the North State are watching closely as the campaign takes shape, eager to preserve the seat for a candidate aligned with LaMalfa’s brand of constituent-first conservatism. Gallagher’s emphasis on steady representation, local control, and resistance to overreach from Sacramento resonates with voters who feel left behind by the state capital’s priorities.
Memorial services for Congressman Doug LaMalfa are scheduled for January 24, 2026, and the political conversation in the district is already shifting from mourning to deciding who will carry the torch. Gallagher’s announcement signals a campaign built on continuity, conservative principles, and an intent to bring North State concerns to the federal level without compromise.
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