By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2026-06-03 10:36:09 | Updated at 2026-06-07 06:57:50
3 days ago
California Republican Assemblyman James Gallagher will serve the remainder of late congressman Doug LaMalfa’s House term after cruising to victory in a special election Tuesday.
With a little more than half the expected vote tallied in the far northern California district, Gallagher had 62.2% support, well above the 50% needed to avoid an August runoff. Democratic State Sen. Mike McGuire led fellow Democrat Audrey Denney by just 37 votes in the race for second place, with both on 17.9% of the vote.
Republican Assembly member James Gallagher speaks during a meeting of the California State Assembly at the California State Capitol on Aug. 21, 2025, in Sacramento, California. Getty ImagesLaMalfa (R-Calif.), who had represented the safe Republican district since 2013, died on Jan. 6 of this year after suffering a heart attack following an aortic dissection. He was 65.
“It’s a mix of emotions,” Gallagher told KRCR-TV after the race was called by the Associated Press. “Missing Congressman Doug LaMalfa, who is a mentor to me, but also just feeling overwhelmed by the amount of support that we’ve had tonight.
Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., leaves a meeting of the House Republican Conference at the Capitol Hill Club on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty ImagesGallagher, 45, has represented the rural region north of Sacramento in the State Assembly since December 2014.
