California Gov. Gavin Newsom has set the special election to serve out the remaining term of the late Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa for Aug. 4, the latest date possible under state law.
The Democratic governor’s decision, announced via a proclamation issued Friday, will further complicate matters for House Republicans, already grappling with a slim majority. LaMalfa, a seventh-term Republican from Northern California known for his focus on agriculture and forestry policies, died on Jan. 6 at age 65.
His unexpected death, along with the resignation of Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene earlier this month, shrunk House Republicans’ majority to 218-213. But GOP leaders are also contending with a handful of no-shows, which is testing their ability to advance their agenda in the narrowly divided chamber.
Still, there’s a possibility the seat could be filled earlier. The Sacramento Bee reported that an August special election would necessitate a June 2 primary. And under California law, a candidate could win outright by winning the primary with more than 50 percent of the vote, according to the campaign of Republican state assemblyman James Gallagher, who is running for LaMalfa’s seat.
