SEMA Mourns Passing of Rep. Doug LaMalfa

WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 7, 2026 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) is mourning the passing of Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., a lifelong automotive enthusiast and champion of the aftermarket industry and the millions of Americans who love to modify and customize their vehicles. As co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus, LaMalfa fought on behalf of those who rely on their vehicles as a means for personal liberty, prosperity, and economic freedom.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of our friend, Rep. Doug LaMalfa,” said SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola. “His boundless enthusiasm for American car culture was matched only by his deep desire to ensure the prosperity of the people whose work fuels the automotive aftermarket. We will miss hearing about his latest missions to procure hard-to-source parts for one of his restoration projects, and future SEMA Shows won’t be the same without him walking the floors and talking with excitement about the builds he witnessed.”

LaMalfa was always there to help address the challenges facing the American car community and was a leading voice in Congress to preserve vehicle choice in the U.S., as well as Americans’ right to modify their vehicles and access public lands for motorized recreational use. He will forever be remembered by SEMA and its members for his public service, passion for his cars, and devotion to his constituents.

About SEMA

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) serves as a leading voice for the worldwide car culture, representing over 7,000 member companies that create, buy, sell, and use specialty-automotive parts that make vehicles more unique, attractive, convenient, safer, fun, and even like new again. Business member benefits include product development resources, market research, networking, education, legislative advocacy, and more. The Association organizes the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nev., and actively supports the career and business opportunities that the aftermarket generates. The industry contributes nearly $337 billion in economic impact to the U.S. economy, supports 1.3 million jobs nationally, and generates more than $52.6 billion in parts sales annually. For more information, visit www.sema.org.

Source: Specialty Equipment Market Association

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