Colusa County Seeks State Funds for Special Election

Supervisors request assistance to cover costs of Congressional vacancy election.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The Colusa County Board of Supervisors has approved a letter requesting state funding to help cover the administrative costs of a special election to fill a Congressional District 1 vacancy created by the death of Doug LaMalfa. County officials say special elections impose significant unplanned expenses beyond normal election operations, and existing funding sources do not fully offset those costs, placing added strain on county budgets.

Why it matters

Ensuring counties have the necessary resources to administer special elections is critical for maintaining consistent election standards, public confidence in the process, and full voter participation across the district.

The details

The vacancy triggers a Special Vacancy Primary Election and, if no candidate receives a majority, a Special Vacancy General Election scheduled for Aug. 4, 2026. The county said the election may be consolidated with the statewide direct primary or conducted as a separate election, each option carrying different legal timelines and administrative demands. The additional costs may include ADA compliant voting equipment, duplicate ballot production and processing, increased staffing, overtime, and compressed certification timelines.

  • The Colusa County Board of Supervisors approved the funding request letter on Feb. 10, 2026.
  • The Special Vacancy Primary Election is scheduled for Aug. 4, 2026.

The players

Colusa County Board of Supervisors

The governing body of Colusa County, California that approved the request for state funding to cover the costs of a special Congressional election.

Doug LaMalfa

The late Congressman for California's 1st Congressional District, whose death created the vacancy that triggered the special election.

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What’s next

The state will decide whether to provide the requested funding to Colusa County to help cover the costs of the special Congressional election.

The takeaway

Special elections can place significant financial strain on county budgets, underscoring the need for state assistance to ensure consistent election standards and full voter participation across the affected district.