The Hill’s 2012 New Members Guide

California

Rep.-elect Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.-01)

DATE OF BIRTH: July 2, 1960

BIRTHPLACE: Oroville, Calif.

RESIDENCE: Richvale, Calif.

OCCUPATION: Farmer  

EDUCATION: B.A., California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: California state senator, 2010-2012; California State Assembly, 2002-2008

FAMILY: Wife, Jill; four children

Doug LaMalfa manages his family’s rice farming business and describes himself as a fourth-generation farmer. 

He retired from the state assembly to make his run for an open seat in the U.S. House. He focused his campaign on land issues and agriculture in his northern California district. He earned is degree in agriculture business.

LaMalfa authored a constitutional amendment again eminent domain abuse and has fought for California water rights, arguing that human need trumps the environmental regulations put in place to protect endangered species. 

He has held elected office for 10 years, spending the maximum allotted six years in the California Assembly before moving to the state Senate. 

He won an eight-person primary easily, beating out his closest opponent, Democrat Jim Reed, by 13 points. California has a top-two primary system, in which the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, go on to compete in the general election. 

The 1st District holds a 13 percent Republican advantage.