California State Assemblyman James Gallagher is the first candidate to announce that he will run in an upcoming upcoming special election to replace District One Congressman Doug LaMalfa, who died suddenly last week following a medical emergency. In a statement, Gallagher, who currently serves as a California Assemblyman in District 3, called LaMalfa a mentor, friend, and a representative of the people in the truest sense of the word. And he apparently has the support of LaMalfa’s widow, Jill. In a statement she said that after consultation with James Gallagher and his wife, and much prayer, she has come to the conclusion that this is what Doug would have wanted and James has her full support. Gallagher was first elected to the State Assembly in 2014, after serving an internship for then Assemblyman LaMalfa. An attorney and partner in the family’s farming business, Gallagher is married to his high school sweetheart Janna, and they have five children. No date has been set for the special election, but it is likely that Governor Newsom will set it for the June Primary. A memorial service is set for LaMalfa on January 24th at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico.