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<\/i> Updated: June 8, 2026 @ 10:51 pm<\/small><\/p>\n
(The Center Square) \u2013 Assemblymember James Gallagher, R-East Nicolaus, gave his final remarks on the Assembly floor Monday afternoon before he leaves the California Legislature to begin his term as a congressman. Already Subscribed!<\/p>\n Cancel anytime <\/span> Secure & Encrypted
Gallagher won the June 2 special election to succeed the late U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, a Republican who died suddenly in January. Gallagher, a Northern California native, will now represent California\u2019s 1st District in the U.S. House of Representatives and will be sworn into office later this week to serve the rest of LaMalfa’s term, which will end Jan. 3. Gallagher also advanced in the June 2 primary for the new term starting Jan. 3 against California Sen. Mike McGuire with 47.2% of the vote against McGuire\u2019s 37.5%. So far, it appears Gallagher will square off against McGuire in the Nov. 3 election,\u00a0according to previous reporting<\/a><\/strong> by The Center Square.
For now, getting to work in Congress is on Gallagher’s mind.
\u201cWhen I am sworn in this week, it will be the first time ever that I\u2019ve been in the majority,\u201d Gallagher said during remarks on the Assembly floor.
\u201cI think that\u2019s been really good for me, actually,” he said about being in the Republican minority in the Legislature. “I think it has really honed my skills and helped me to understand how minority voices are heard.\u201d
Asm. Gallagher Delivers Final Floor Speech Before Joining Congress
Gallagher was first elected to the Assembly in 2014. In 2025, he was the Assembly minority leader. In his time representing the Assembly 3rd District, Gallagher introduced a bill that would limit the governor\u2019s emergency powers and supported awarding more recovery money to California communities affected by wildfires<\/a><\/strong>. In 2025, Gallagher also advanced a proposal that would split California into two states<\/a><\/strong>, with counties in Northern California seceding from the state to form a new one. That proposal did not advance in the Assembly.
He also opposed congressional redistricting during debates last summer on the Assembly floor.
\u201cIt is not lost on me as I stand here today that I was elected overwhelmingly by the people of my district,\u201d Gallagher said. \u201cIf things go to plan, my district won\u2019t be able to elect a person of their choice, and that\u2019s a frustrating thing. I think we need to change that.\u201d
Mid-decade congressional redistricting, which California voters passed in November 2025, gave Democrats a chance to pick up five new seats in the U.S. House of Representatives in the midterm elections this November. Gallagher and other Republican lawmakers opposed the redistricting effort, which Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom supported in response to Texas\u2019 own mid-decade redistricting in summer 2025 to add five Republican seats.
Other prominent Republican lawmakers on the Assembly floor spoke out in support of Gallagher during the floor session on Monday afternoon.
\u201cIt\u2019s when James became [assembly minority] leader that he became the conscience of the caucus,\u201d Assemblymember Tom Lackey, R-Lancaster, said. \u201cHe also decided it was time for us to make our mark instead of just existing.\u201d
Assembly Minority Leader Heath Flora, R-Ripon, who succeeded Gallagher in that role, said on the Assembly floor that the caucus turned around under Gallagher\u2019s leadership.
\u201cIt has been an example for all of us and all those coming after you to be a strong, courageous leader that\u2019s also respectful,\u201d Flora said.
Gallagher will be sworn in later this week in Washington, D.C. and will have a ceremonial oath of office ceremony on June 16 in Oroville, according to his Facebook page.\u00a0
Originally published on thecentersquare.com<\/a>, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange<\/a>.
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