{"id":423012,"date":"2026-08-03T21:36:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T21:36:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/423012\/"},"modified":"2026-08-03T21:36:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T21:36:10","slug":"heath-flora-ousted-as-california-assembly-gop-leader-amid-probes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/423012\/","title":{"rendered":"Heath Flora ousted as California Assembly GOP leader amid probes"},"content":{"rendered":"

California Assembly Republicans ousted Heath Flora as their leader Monday, one day after the California Post revealed that the Central Valley lawmaker is facing two state ethics investigations and spent more than $11,000 in campaign money at a Sacramento dive bar<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo<\/a>, a first-term Republican from Tulare who served in Flora\u2019s leadership team, was selected to replace him as minority leader, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.<\/p>\n

The sudden shake-up ended Flora\u2019s rocky tenure atop the Republican caucus less than a year after he took over the job.<\/p>\n

California Assembly Republicans ousted Heath Flora as their leader Monday.<\/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

Flora (R-Ripon) remains a member of the Assembly.<\/p>\n

The leadership change came after The Post reported Sunday that the Fair Political Practices Commission<\/a> had opened separate investigations into allegations involving Flora\u2019s use of campaign funds and his reporting of behested payments \u2014 charitable donations solicited by elected officials.<\/p>\n

The Post also revealed that Flora\u2019s campaign spent more than $11,000 at Chargins\u2019 Bar & Grill, an East Sacramento watering hole more than 50 miles from his district.<\/p>\n

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

Sources told The Post that Flora frequently drank at the bar and sometimes remained there for hours. Flora did not respond to detailed questions about the expenses or investigations before Sunday\u2019s story was published. AP<\/p>\n

Several Republican lawmakers had been discussing a possible challenge to Flora\u2019s leadership before the caucus convened Monday. AP<\/p>\n

Sources told The Post that Flora frequently drank at the bar and sometimes remained there for hours. Flora did not respond to detailed questions about the expenses or investigations before Sunday\u2019s story was published.<\/p>\n

Flora\u2019s removal also followed growing anger among Republicans over his vote last month for legislation allowing 14 local governments to seek sales-tax increases<\/a> beyond existing limits.<\/p>\n

Only Flora and Assembly Republican Caucus Chairman Juan Alanis joined Democrats in voting for the measure, angering conservatives who accused the two GOP leaders of helping Democrats advance tax increases during a statewide affordability crisis.<\/p>\n

Several Republican lawmakers had been discussing a possible challenge to Flora\u2019s leadership before the caucus convened Monday.<\/p>\n

Flora\u2019s position as GOP minority leader was questioned almost immediately after he was appointed last year, when the\u00a0Sacramento Bee<\/a>\u00a0published 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

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

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\u201cToday\u2019s change in leadership in the Republican Assembly Caucus reflects a steely resolve and energy to do whatever it takes to turn California around,\u201d Assemblymember Carl DeMaio (R-San Diego) told The Post.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe leadership change should send a strong and clear message that the days of Republicans in Sacramento being pushovers to the Democrats are over. And as we head into the fall election, we have a united commitment to take our case to voters for change.\u201d<\/p>\n

Republican Assembly member Heath Flora, of Ripon, left, talks with Democratic Assembly member Issac Bryan, of Los Angeles, at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, July 10, 2023. (FR171957 AP) AP<\/p>\n

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

Assemblyman Heath Flora, R-Ripon, talks with Assemblywoman Mia Bonta, D-Oakland, during the Assembly session in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, August 8, 2022. Lawmakers have an Aug. 31 deadline to complete their work for the 2021-2022 session with hundreds of bills to consider. (AP) 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

Assembly Republicans elected Macedo, a first-term Tulare lawmaker, as their new minority leader after a vote to get Flora to vacate the leadership position. She received 12 votes in support while seven lawmakers abstained.<\/p>\n

Alexandra Macedo, R-Tulare, will lead Assembly Republicans in her first term. AP<\/p>\n

\u201cI am deeply honored by the trust my colleagues have placed in me, and I am proud to stand alongside a unified caucus dedicated to real, common-sense solutions,\u201d Macedo said in a statement obtained by The Post.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur message is clear: California is becoming unaffordable for working families, and our caucus is united in the fight to bring down the cost of living, make our communities safer and hold state bureaucrats accountable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Assemblymember Alexandra Macedo was elected to Legislature in 2024. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

Macedo also thanked Flora, who lost the leadership post less than a year after taking control of the Assembly\u2019s 20-member Republican caucus.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs I step into this role, I want to thank Leader Emeritus Heath Flora for his service and commitment to our caucus. His work is appreciated.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The announcement did not explain why Flora was replaced or provide details about the caucus vote.<\/p>\n

Macedo also unveiled a new leadership team that includes Assemblyman David Tangipa of Fresno as minority whip and Assemblyman Josh Hoover of Folsom as minority floor leader.<\/p>\n

Assemblywoman Natasha Johnson of Lake Elsinore will serve as minority caucus chair, while Assemblyman Joe Patterson of Rocklin was named minority deputy leader.<\/p>\n

The caucus said the team would push back against costly state policies, demand greater government accountability and focus on public safety, utility rates and fiscal oversight.<\/p>\n

California Republican Party Chairwoman Corrin Rankin thanked Flora for \u201chis service\u201d in a statement touting the elevation of Macedo.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlexandra Macedo represents a new generation of Republican leadership in California,\u201d Rankin said.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe understands what it takes to win elections, and she knows that success requires candidates, caucus members, donors, party leaders and grassroots volunteers to work as one team. She has earned the trust of her colleagues, and I am confident she will be a strong voice for Republican members and the Californians they represent.\u201d<\/p>\n

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