The 119th Congress returned to Washington, D.C. on Monday, and on Tuesday, the House Republican members attended a retreat with President Donald Trump addressing the assembled. Trump dedicated his speech to Rep. Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), who passed away on Monday. The cause of death has not been publicly released.
Trump said:
I want to express our tremendous sorrow at the loss of a great member, a great, great, great member: Congressman Doug LaMalfa, who passed away yesterday, as you probably have heard. He was the leader of the Western caucus, a fierce champion on California water issues — he was great on the water. "Release the water!" he'd scream out. And a true defender of American children, he was a defender of everybody, and our hearts go out to his wife Jill and his entire family.
And I was really... I was really saddened by his passing and was thinking about not even doing the speech in his honor. But then, I decided that I have to do it in his honor. I'll do it in his honor because he would have wanted it that way. He would have wanted it that way. He would have said, "Do that speech, are you kidding me?! Do the speech." Big guy, but he was a fantastic person. Man, that was a quick one, I don't know. I don't know quite yet what happened, but boy, it's a tough one. He was just with us. He was our friend, to all of us, to every one of us.
WATCH:
.@POTUS: "I want to express our tremendous sorrow at the loss of a great member — a great, great, great member — Congressman Doug LaMalfa, who passed away yesterday... our hearts go out to his wife, Jill and his entire family." 🙏🕊️ pic.twitter.com/pTuNpCLOFb
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 6, 2026
LaMalfa was a staunch Trump ally and, judging by his voting record, was 100 percent aligned with the presidential agenda - unusual for a California representative. Tributes are pouring out on X from his colleagues, and not just the perfunctory kind.
Jacquie and I are devastated about the sudden loss of our friend, Congressman Doug LaMalfa. Doug was a loving father and husband, and staunch advocate for his constituents and rural America. Our prayers are with Doug’s wife, Jill, and their children. pic.twitter.com/NsnxZsp2W3
— Tom Emmer (@GOPMajorityWhip) January 6, 2026
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LaMalfa's death comes on the heels of the news that Indiana Rep. Jim Baird (R-04) has been hospitalized after an accident.
Rep. Jim Baird, R-Ind., has been hospitalized after a car accident, Fox News has learned.
Baird is responsive and in stable condition, Fox News sources said.
Details about the incident remain unclear.
Before Trump's remarks, Speaker Johnson updated the retreat attendees on Baird's condition.
Speaker Mike Johnson also addressed LaMalfa’s death and Baird’s hospitalization before Trump spoke, according to four people granted anonymity to describe the closed-door comments. Johnson said he believed Baird was dealing with a spinal issue.
It is not clear where the crash involving Baird, 80, took place. Another Indiana Republican, Rep. Jackie Walorski, was killed in a 2022 auto collision that also claimed the lives of two congressional aides and another driver.
Thoughts and prayers go out to both Baird and his wife, as well as the family of Doug LaMalfa. The somberness of these moments is even more pronounced with the reality that the already razor-thin Republican House majority just got thinner. Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA-14) resigned as of Tuesday. With LaMalfa's death, the majority dropped from 220 to 218.
The House will be 218-213.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) January 6, 2026
Two-vote margin. One-vote margin with Massie mostly against the House Republican leadership. https://t.co/B9oj2Fvn3X
California's redistricting shenanigans with the passage of the unconstitutional Prop. 50 adds fuel to this possible dumpster fire. From votes on health care, the implementation of the One Big Beautiful Law, and the possibility of another government shutdown, Speaker Mike Johnson is going to have to work some magic to keep his caucus together.
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