This tragedy is the loss of a principled conservative who championed rural America, farmers and constitutional governance against coastal elites. His consistent advocacy for Northern California communities and alignment with Republican priorities demonstrated true legislative service over political spectacle. The district remains solidly Republican, ensuring his legacy continues through a special election victory.
Johnson's razor-thin majority has effectively vanished, creating aan opportunity to advance Democratic priorities. After LaMalfa's death, combined with other Republican defections, the GOP will barely be able to muster votes while Trump's waning popularity accelerates their collapse. Democrats must seize this moment to pass legislation, release Epstein files and rein in executive overreach before the walls close in on Trump completely.
There's a 25.0% chance that Republicans will hold the most seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2026 midterm elections, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
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