By Emily Haerter
Doug LaMalfa recently held a Chico town hall for the first time in 8 years, just before California’s redistricting war began to reach a fevered pitch.
Countless locals had already been protesting LaMalfa’s lack of presence in the community, and that sentiment resurfaced during his town hall. Red and green cards were given to attendees to reflect how they felt during certain sections of the event, green meaning agreeable, red meaning disagreeable. The majority of the audience waved red cards through the entirety of the meeting.
Some went even further to taunt LaMalfa, audibly booing and jeering at the congressman for his whole speech and even during the scheduled question and answer session.
Many voters and constituents wanted answers from LaMalfa on the Trump Administration’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill.” Critics say LaMalfa totally evaded concerns about the legislation, which will cut $1.1 trillion in federal spending for Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act. More specifically, the “Big Beautiful Bill” plans to cut federal Medicaid spending by $793-$880 billion over 10 years, which is expected to affect millions across the nation through loss of coverage.
LaMalfa’s district had over 40% Medicaid enrollment in 2023, which was the highest rate of any California congressional district. Medicaid enrollment rates in the year 2025 remain high.
LaMalfa has echoed a White House talking point about these reductions by saying they only target systemic fraud and abuse.
LaMalfa also largely circumvented mentioning Trump’s cuts to Forest Service funding, an ever-relevant topic in Butte County. The state of California had to pitch in an extra $135 billion on fire prevention because of the federal cuts. What LaMalfa did acknowledge about those changes was that they require the Forest Service to “increase the base and scale of the work,” remarks that seemed to leave a bitter taste in some constituents’ mouths.
Some voters demanded to know why LaMalfa has been silent on the Trump Administration’s refusal to fully release the Jeffrey Epstein files.
As tensions heightened, members of the crowd repeatedly shouted at LaMalfa, “You need to be impeached!” and “You’re a criminal!”
The clamor, which happened on Aug. 11 in front of an estimated 900 people, went down just days before a redistricting fight began escalating between Texas Republicans and California Democrats. Voters across the Golden State will now be heading into a special election in November on congressional redistricting, one that could directly affect LaMalfa, as well as Republican representatives Kevin Kiley, David Valadao, Darrell Issa and Ken Calvert.
CN&R will have in-depth coverage next week about what the redistricting battle could mean for LaMalfa’s political future.
Ever since the January 9 2021 attack on the US Capitol when LaMalfa voted along with his fellow Republican representatives to not certify the election I have considered him an innsurectionist. I would be very happy to have his seat gerrymandered enough so that he loses that seat. I think he is unfit to be a congressman.