Republican’s Death Narrows Control Of House

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Republican Doug LaMalfa, a California rice farmer who served seven terms in the U.S. House and was a reliable vote on President Donald Trump’s agenda, has died at age 65. LaMalfa’s death reduces the GOP’s narrow control of the House to 218 seats to Democrats’ 213. LaMalfa was a former state lawmaker and rice farmer who was first elected to Congress in 2012. The Butte County sheriff’s office says the congressman experienced a medical emergency Monday and died during a surgical procedure. LaMalfa’s chief of staff says he was a funny guy who loved cars and classic rock. Democratic California Sen. Adam Schiff says LaMalfa was willing to work across the aisle to get things done.