US CONGRESSMAN DIES, WEAKENING REPUBLICANS' HOUSE MAJORITY

WASHINGTON, Jan 7 (Bernama-dpa) -- Following the death of Republican congressman Doug LaMalfa, the party's majority in the US House of Representatives has been weakened, German Press Agency (dpa) reported.

His death narrows the Republicans' numbers in the House to 218 seats against the Democrats' 213 seats.

With only a very narrow majority, Republicans can now afford to lose no more than two members in plenary votes without LaMalfa's vote, according to US media reports.

The Republican leadership in the House of Representatives confirmed LaMalfa's death on Tuesday on social media.

LaMalfa, who was 65, had represented a rural constituency in northern California since 2013. He was considered a prominent representative of agriculture and was chairman of a bipartisan congressional group representing the interests of the western US states.

Under California law, a by-election is required to fill the seat. However, details of the schedule or the exact procedure were not initially known. The seat will remain vacant until a successor is elected, leaving the Republican caucus with one less vote.

According to US media reports, observers believe that the Republicans have a good chance of defending the seat in a by-election in LaMalfa's former constituency, which is strongly Republican.

President Trump referred to LaMalfa's death in a speech to Republican congressional representatives on Tuesday, interrupting his remarks on the political situation to pay tribute to the late congressman.

Trump had previously spoken more generally about the uncertainty of legislative majorities and the psychological dynamics of midterm elections.

He suggested that even successful presidencies have historically often lost support during the so-called midterms, the congressional elections held halfway through a US president's four-year term.

The next midterms in the US are scheduled for November 3 this year.

--BERNAMA-dpa