Logo courtesy of Sutter County 

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - The Sutter County Board of Supervisors approved a letter at a Feb. 2 special meeting urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to accelerate the special election to fill the congressional seat left vacant by the death of Rep. Doug LaMalfa.

Supervisors discussed the issue during the meeting and ratified a letter signed by Board Chair Mike Ziegenmeyer.

County officials said the vacancy has left the First Congressional District without representation during a critical period and that the current election schedule delays the region’s ability to have a voice in Washington. Newsom has set the special primary for June 2 to align with the statewide primary and the special general election for Aug. 4.

“Any delay is a political maneuver that leaves the North State without representation in Congress,” Ziegenmeyer wrote.

County officials said the governor has previously accelerated election timelines when it served political interests, pointing to his decision to call a special election tied to Proposition 50 redistricting changes. They said Newsom set a precedent by moving quickly in that case to advance a map benefiting Democrats in the 2028 and 2030 elections and argued that the same urgency should apply to restoring representation for the First District.

Officials also cited concern over the vacancy occurring alongside upcoming redistricting changes. County officials estimated the cost of conducting a standalone special election without state reimbursement would be approximately $300,000.

Supervisors first reached consensus to urge Newsom to expedite the election during their Jan. 27 meeting. The Feb. 2 vote finalized the action.

The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of LaMalfa’s term through December 2026. 

Assemblyman James Gallagher, a Yuba City Republican, has announced he will seek the seat, describing LaMalfa as both a friend and mentor. As of early February, no other candidates have formally announced plans to enter the race.