Rep. James Gallagher (R-CA) took the oath of office Wednesday to become a member of the U.S. House of Representatives [1].
Gallagher's entry into Congress restores representation for his district following a vacancy left by former Rep. Doug LaMalfa. His swearing-in ensures that constituents in northern California have a voting member in the House to address regional interests during the current legislative session.
Speaker Mike Johnson administered the oath during the ceremony held in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol [1, 2]. The event took place on June 10, 2026 [1, 3].
Gallagher entered the race to fill the remainder of LaMalfa's term after winning a special election held on June 2, 2026 [3, 4]. His victory allows him to assume the seat immediately rather than waiting for the general election cycle.
Reports regarding the specific district number vary. One source identifies the seat as California's 1st Congressional District [3], while another refers to the race as the District 2 special election [4].
As a newly sworn member, Gallagher joins the Republican caucus under Speaker Johnson's leadership. He will now begin the process of establishing his office, and appointing staff to manage the district's needs in Washington, D.C. [1, 2].
“Rep. James Gallagher (R-CA) took the oath of office Wednesday”
The swift transition from the June 2 special election to the June 10 swearing-in prevents a prolonged period of vacancy in the district. By filling the seat of Doug LaMalfa, the Republican party maintains its hold on the district and preserves its voting strength in the House of Representatives.
