House Republican Hospitalized After Car Accident

Indiana Republican Rep. Jim Baird was hospitalized following a vehicle-related accident, according to information released Monday. Baird, 80, is reported to be responsive and in stable condition, though details surrounding the incident remain limited.

Baird, who has represented Indiana’s 4th Congressional District since 2019, is well known on Capitol Hill for his advocacy on behalf of veterans and the agricultural community. His district spans largely rural areas across western and north-central Indiana, reflecting the farming and small-town values that have shaped his legislative priorities, Fox News noted.

Before entering Congress, Baird served eight years in the Indiana House of Representatives from 2010 to 2018 and previously held office as a Putnam County commissioner from 2006 to 2010.

Over the weekend, Baird publicly praised President Donald Trump for decisive action taken against Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, underscoring his support for the administration’s national security posture.

“We are fortunate to have a president willing to follow through on protecting American lives. Decisive leadership as commander in chief matters, and it gives our men and women in uniform the confidence they need to carry out difficult missions against those who threaten our country,” Baird wrote on X.

“Holding indicted criminals accountable and denying drug traffickers a safe haven sends a clear message: The United States will not tolerate foreign actors who enable the flow of fentanyl and other deadly drugs into our communities,” he added.

Baird’s hospitalization came on a somber day for House Republicans, who also learned of the passing of longtime California Rep. Doug LaMalfa.

LaMalfa, 65, represented California’s 1st Congressional District and served as chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, where he was a leading voice for rural America, agriculture, and conservative land-use policies.

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., confirmed LaMalfa’s death in a post on X.

“Jacquie and I are devastated about the sudden loss of our friend, Congressman Doug LaMalfa. Doug was a loving father and husband, and staunch advocate for his constituents and rural America. Our prayers are with Doug’s wife, Jill, and their children,” Emmer said.

LaMalfa was widely respected as a principled conservative and was known personally for his kindness and professionalism toward colleagues and members of the press alike.

His passing further narrows the Republican majority in the House to 218–213. Combined with the recent resignation of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., House Republicans can now afford to lose no more than two votes to pass legislation along party lines.

As the GOP enters the second half of the 119th Congress, leadership faces a razor-thin margin while working to advance what they have described as a second “significant, commendable bill.”

Tributes for LaMalfa poured in from colleagues across the conference Tuesday morning, reflecting the shock felt throughout Capitol Hill.

“Doug was a principled conservative and a tireless advocate for the people of Northern California. He was never afraid to fight for rural communities, farmers, and working families. Doug brought grit, authenticity, and conviction to everything he did in public service,” said National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson, R-N.C.

Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., added, “Doug was not only a respected colleague in the California Republican Delegation, but a genuinely kind, decent man who treated everyone with warmth and respect. His leadership, friendship, and steady presence will be deeply missed.”

House Republicans gathered Tuesday for an all-day policy retreat at the newly renamed Trump Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where President Donald Trump addressed lawmakers to open the session.

Hudson, who also chairs the House GOP campaign arm, remembered LaMalfa as both a committed public servant and a man of personal passions.

“Doug was a real gearhead and motorsports fan as well as a principled conservative and a tireless advocate for the people of Northern California,” Hudson said. “Doug brought grit, authenticity, and conviction to everything he did in public service.”