Subject: Republicans control of the House gets more tenuous
https://martinlongman.substack...

Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa died suddenly on Monday. He represented California’s 1st District in the northernmost part of the state. His district is one of five predicted to fall to the Democrats in November after a mid-decade redistricting plan was approved by Golden State voters.

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Under California law, Gov. Gavin Newson must announce a special election within 14 days of LaMalfa’s death. He then has to set a date at least 126 days but not more than 140 days in the future. He could push it off as far as 200 days if the special election can be consolidated with a local or regularly scheduled election in the same area. This means Newson can keep the 1st District vacant until June 9, 2026 under the standard 140-day rule and until August 8, 2026, under the 200-day consolidation rule. I expect he will use all the time he can. Whoever wins this special election, presumably a Republican, will probably have a very short-lived career in the House, ending roughly a year from today.