California Assembly GOP Ousts Leader After Ethics Probes and Tax Vote

Heath Flora, until this week the top Republican in the California Assembly, lost his leadership post Monday after a newspaper investigation revealed two state ethics probes and more than $11,000 in campaign spending at a Sacramento dive bar.

Flora’s removal came one day after the New York Post reported the Fair Political Practices Commission opened investigations into his handling of behested payments — charitable donations solicited by elected officials — and alleged misuse of campaign funds. The same report detailed 54 tabs totaling over $11,500 at Chargins’ Bar & Grill, an East Sacramento establishment more than 50 miles from his Central Valley district, nearly all described as “District Meeting” expenses.

The leadership change also followed anger among Republicans over Flora’s July vote for Senate Bill 762, which allows 13 cities and counties to ask voters to exceed California’s longstanding 2% local sales tax cap. Only Flora and fellow Republican Assemblymember Juan Alanis joined Democrats in supporting the measure.

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“Our whole message this election cycle is going to be based on affordability, and that vote threatens our message,” a Republican caucus source told the Post.

Assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo, a first-term Republican from Tulare, was elected to replace Flora after receiving 10 votes from the 20-member Republican caucus. Assemblyman David Tangipa of Fresno was named minority whip in the new leadership team.

State records show Flora acted as an intermediary on more than $1.15 million in behested payments since May 2023, many from entities with business before the Legislature. The October 2025 complaint alleged improper handling of those payments. A second complaint filed in March alleged campaign-fund misuse.

Flora’s most expensive single tab at Chargins was $1,908.86 on Sept. 3, 2025 — notable for a bar whose menu consists of pub fare like fried chicken and hamburgers, with a $15 seafood gumbo as the top item. Flora reported multiple meals at the same bar on the same night at least six times, and the Legislature was in session on at least two of those dates.

“Those expenses do not appear on their face to be legitimate — for anyone who has ever patronized that establishment,” Steve Mavigilio, a Democratic political strategist, told the Post.

Emily Hughes, a former lobbyist who had an affair with Flora, told the Post that Flora “routinely drinks on the job” and is known to abuse campaign money. A GOP caucus source confirmed Flora “always has alcohol on his breath. Not just marathon sessions — even during the day.”

Flora received just 30.6% of the vote in the June primary election in Stanislaus County — the lowest level of support for any incumbent state legislator. All of the Republican parties within his district declined to endorse him.

“Just seeing his expense reports, from golf courses throughout the entire state to Las Vegas Raiders trips to all the bars that he expenses, we don’t think this is appropriate behavior for the minority leader,” Stanislaus County Republican Party Chairman Joel Campos told the Post.

Alanis, who joined Flora in supporting the tax measure, issued a statement Monday saying the leadership change was “fiercely divided” and that “a significant portion of caucus members opposed the leadership change.” He added that “attempts to paper over those deep differences with public declarations of unity only undermine the credibility of the caucus.”

Macedo thanked Flora for “his service and commitment to our caucus” but did not explain why he was replaced. California Republican Party Chairwoman Corrin Rankin said Macedo “represents a new generation of Republican leadership.”

Flora did not respond to requests for comment on any of the allegations.

The Breakdown

• Flora and Alanis were the only two Assembly Republicans who voted for Senate Bill 762, which allows 13 cities and counties to ask voters to exceed California’s 2% local sales tax cap.
• The Fair Political Practices Commission opened two investigations: one in October 2025 over behested payments (donations where an official acts as intermediary), and one in March 2026 over alleged campaign-fund misuse.
• Flora’s campaign spent more than $11,500 at Chargins’ Bar & Grill since April 2025, nearly all described as “District Meetings,” including multiple tabs on the same night at least six times.
• Flora acted as intermediary on over $1.15 million in behested payments since May 2023, many from entities with business before the Legislature.
• Assembly Republicans removed Flora Monday and elected Alexandra Macedo of Tulare as the new minority leader, with David Tangipa of Fresno as minority whip.

What This Means for You

When a legislative leader votes to let local governments ask you for higher taxes, then faces ethics investigations for how he handled campaign money and solicited donations from interests with business before the Legislature, that’s a test of whether the system holds its own accountable. You didn’t vote for or against Flora — you don’t live in his district — but his caucus removed him, which tells you they saw the vote and the investigations as a liability heading into fall elections.

What to Watch

The Fair Political Practices Commission investigations are ongoing — watch whether they result in fines, referrals, or findings that Flora broke the law, or whether they quietly close. Flora is running for a sixth and final term despite receiving only 30.6% in the June primary and losing his party’s endorsement — watch whether he survives the general election. Senate Bill 762 would allow 13 cities and counties to ask voters to exceed the 2% sales tax cap — watch whether any of them are near you, and whether your local officials plan to use that authority.