{"id":422161,"date":"2026-08-03T00:56:07","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T00:56:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/422161\/"},"modified":"2026-08-03T00:56:07","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T00:56:07","slug":"california-gop-leader-faces-two-ethics-probes-after-backing-tax-hike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/422161\/","title":{"rendered":"California GOP leader faces two ethics probes after backing tax hike"},"content":{"rendered":"

Heath Flora, the top Republican in the California Assembly, is facing two state ethics investigations and could be on the brink of a leadership fight after he infuriated his party by siding with Democrats to allow tax hikes<\/a> across the state, The Post has learned.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Several Capitol insiders told The Post that Flora is facing blowback after he and fellow Republican Assemblymember Juan Alanis voted for Senate Bill 762 last month, which will allow 13 cities and counties to ask voters to exceed California\u2019s longstanding 2% local sales tax cap.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re disappointed by our state assemblyman and hearing from constituents,\u201d Stanislaus County Republican Party Chairman Joel Campos told The Post.<\/p>\n

Heath Flora is under fire after voting with Democrats to allow sales tax increases across the state. AP<\/p>\n

Flora received just 30.6% of the vote in the June primary election in Stanislaus County \u2014 the lowest level of support for any incumbent state legislator and all of the Republican parties within his district declined to endorse him.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust seeing his expense reports, from golf courses throughout the entire state to Las Vegas Raiders trips <\/a>to all the bars that he expenses, we don\u2019t think this is appropriate behavior for the minority leader,\u201d Campos said.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, since the controversial vote, The Post has learned Flora is facing two state ethics probes by the Fair Political Practices Commission: one from October 2025 over behested payments<\/a>, which are donations in which a government official acts as an intermediary; and a second investigation looking into a potential misuse of campaign funds.<\/p>\n

State records show Flora \u2014 who did not respond to requests for comment \u2014 has been on a tear seeking money from special interests since May 2023, acting as an intermediary on more than $1.15 million in behested payments. Many of these donations came from entities with business before the Legislature. <\/p>\n

A complaint was filed in October 2025.<\/p>\n

Flora, right, is facing two state ethics investigations by the Fair Political Practices Commission. AP<\/p>\n

\u201cThe problem with that [GOP minority leader] title is he just voted for a tax increase<\/a>, so that title becomes a liability for us,\u201d said a source within the Republican caucus.<\/p>\n

A second Capitol insider said Flora\u2019s vote crossed a \u201cred line\u201d while another source told The Post: \u201cHe\u2019s a leader in name only.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHe doesn\u2019t actually lead,\u201d the source added. \u201cHe\u2019s closer to the Democrats than he is a leader to the Republicans.\u201d<\/p>\n

The second complaint with the Fair Political Practices Commission<\/a> alleging a misuse of campaign funds was filed on March 4 against Flora, his 2026 reelection committee and Kelly Lawler, founder of the campaign finance firm The KAL Group.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Chargins\u2019 Bar & Grill isn\u2019t exactly the place many would expect a legislator to be taking important meetings. Obtained by the CA Post<\/p>\n

However, a source told The Post that Lawler stepped down from her role as treasurer in early 2024, and campaign records confirm that Flora has acted as his own treasurer while racking up extravagant campaign expenditures.<\/p>\n

Flora\u2019s campaign records show frequent sporting events and golf outings \u2014 he has expensed \u201cgolf supplies\u201d for charges listed as meetings at courses across the country<\/a> \u2014 but no charge has appeared more frequently over the last year and a half than Chargins\u2019 Bar & Grill.<\/p>\n

The dank neighborhood dive bar in East Sac has dead animal skulls and messages in chalk adorning the walls, and saloon doors guarding the men\u2019s room toilet.<\/p>\n

Nearly every one of Flora\u2019s expenses at the dive bar since April 2025 \u2014 54 tabs totaling more than $11,500 in charges \u2014 was described as a \u201cDistrict Meeting.\u201d<\/p>\n

The men\u2019s bathroom in Chargins is not known for its privacy. Obtained by the CA Post<\/p>\n

Flora\u2019s position as GOP minority leader was questioned almost immediately after he was appointed last year, when the Sacramento Bee<\/a> published a bombshell report on his affair with a former lobbyist, Emily Hughes, as well as missing child support payments to his ex-wife.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Flora also was found to not be living in his district, leaving his Central Valley constituents frequently wondering what the former farmer and firefighter is doing with his time \u2014 and who was representing their interests in Sacramento.<\/p>\n

Hughes, the former lobbyist who had an affair with Flora when he was still married, told The Post that Flora routinely drinks on the job and is known to abuse campaign money.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone is privy to his excessive drinking,\u201d Hughes told The Post.<\/p>\n

Flora is seeking a final term in the Legislature but his local Republican parties did not endorse him. Public Policy Institute of California<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Legislature is his own high school popularity contest. He is there to drink and be the popular kid in high school that he never was.\u201d<\/p>\n

A GOP caucus source confirmed to The Post that Flora has developed a reputation for not only partying but also drinking while doing official state business at the Capitol.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe always has alcohol on his breath. Not just marathon sessions \u2014 even during the day,\u201d the source said.<\/p>\n

Flora\u2019s most expensive \u201cmeal\u201d at Chargins was a $1,908.86 tab on Sept. 3, 2025, which is impressive considering the menu at the East Sac neighborhood haunt consists of cheap pub grub like fried chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs. The top delicacy on the menu appears to be a $15 seafood gumbo.<\/p>\n

Flora also reported having multiple meals at the dive bar on the same night.\u00a0<\/p>\n

On June 16, 2025, Flora\u2019s campaign committee \u2014 he is currently seeking a sixth and final term in the Legislature \u2014 reported two separate expenses totaling $254.24. Two more charges totaling $608.31 were reported on Sept. 6, 2025, while Sept. 11 of that year featured two additional expenditures for $221.77.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Flora has infuriated Republican colleagues as he is known to be cozy with lobbyists and the opposing party. AP<\/p>\n

On Nov. 13, 2025, the committee reported three separate \u201cMeal for District Meeting\u201d charges totaling $308.66. Two more charges were reported on April 18, 2026, totaling $279.16.<\/p>\n

The Legislature was in session on at least two of these dates.<\/p>\n

Steve Mavigilio, a veteran Democratic political strategist, couldn\u2019t help but chuckle when he heard about the startling number of \u201cmeetings\u201d Flora has held at Chargins,<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s certainly eyebrow raising,\u201d he said, \u201cbecause those expenses do not appear on their face to be legitimate \u2014 for anyone who has ever patronized that establishment.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Sources at the Capitol said that Flora\u2019s boozing and cozy relationship with lobbyists has become problematic, as the sales tax vote offered cover to Democratic legislators in fierce reelection battles.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur whole message this election cycle is going to be based on affordability<\/a>, and that vote threatens our message,\u201d one source said.<\/p>\n

Legislators are currently on break for the July recess, but anger over Flora\u2019s tax vote has not subsided. The source within the Republican caucus said that Flora\u2019s time in leadership could be coming to an end.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOur take on Heath Flora is that a bunch of the lobbyists like him, so maybe he can raise money from lobbyists [as GOP minority leader],\u201d the source said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cBut when it comes down to serious policy plays, shaping our message and defining our campaign strategy for the fall, Heath Flora is not involved in that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flora has not responded to The Post\u2019s requests for comment on any of these allegations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Heath Flora, the top Republican in the California Assembly, is facing two state ethics investigations and could be…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":422162,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[1630,8697,7,9,8,168527,100720,6424,13,1748,1694,3586],"class_list":["post-422161","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-california","tag-alcohol","tag-bars","tag-california","tag-california-headlines","tag-california-news","tag-ethics-probe","tag-golf-course","tag-las-vegas-raiders","tag-politics","tag-republicans","tag-taxes","tag-us-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/422161","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=422161"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/422161\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/422162"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=422161"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=422161"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=422161"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}