California Assembly Republicans Elect Assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo after Ousting Frat Boy Leader Heath Flora

California Assembly Republicans replaced Heath Flora (R-Ripon) as minority leader Monday, and quickly elected Assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo (R-Tulare) to the leadership position.

The Globe has long reported on Flora’s troubled leadership, including annual Kentucky Derby junkets, and most recently, voting to increase taxes along with Democrats.

The Globe was the first to report that July 2, 2026, Republican Minority Leader Heath Flora and Republican Caucus Chair Juan Alanis voted to pass a tax increase, even as numerous Democrat Assembly members did not.

The bill, Senate Bill 762 by Sen. Jesse Arreguin (D-Berkeley) and Sen. John Laird (R-Monterey), authorizes numerous cities and counties to impose a transactions and use tax that exceeds the 2% statutory limitation.

They didn’t just vote for it, they provided cover for several Assembly Democrats who laid off of the bill because they didn’t want the tax increase vote on their record.

As for Flora’s Kentucky Derby junkets, the Globe reported:

Assemblyman Heath Flora (R-Ripon), or “Flora the Explorer” as he is known, and his penchant for the ponies – as in Kentucky Derby ponies. Assemblyman Flora started a ballot initiative committee, which appears to raise money for the sole purpose of taking lobbyist friends to the Kentucky Derby – at least the last couple of years of his mandatory reporting indicates this.

Assemblyman Flora’s mandatory FPPC Form 460’s reporting “Recipient Committee Campaign Statement,” shows Flora raising money for a ballot initiative, but spending the funds on trips to the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

The latest “Assemblyman Heath Flora for Safer Communities, a controlled Ballot Measure Committee” reports the most recent contributions to his ballot initiative committee, and one big expenditure of $54,592 going to “5/2-5/2024 Fundraiser Lodging and Meals for 8 including candidate.”

$54,592 is an annual salary of many Californians, and many more take home far less.

Four lovely days in Kentucky chasing ponies, dining and enjoying Kentucky Bourbons and campaign contributions?

In the last article we clearly identified the recipients of these expenditures as tickets, restaurants, bars, hotels and to Flora’s campaign consultants and PR consultants. This time it looks more like a shell game with one big $54,592 check to the Golden State Strategy Group – who will in turn purchase the tickets, restaurants, bars, and hotels?

Flora also voted “Yes” to pass AB 610, the $20 per hour fast food minimum wage exemptions bill, while Republican Leader Gallagher voted “No” on AB 610. Since when does a Republican floor leader – the number 2 guy – vote against the number 1 guy? Flora also did not vote against a Medi-Cal tax bill (his second questionable vote in one legislative session).

The frat boy Assemblyman also had a pool table in his Assembly office, in place of a conference table. While an office pool table may just be a stress reliever, it doesn’t look good in an Assembly leader’s office. It kind of takes us back to Speaker Willie Brown and Rusty Areias days in the 1980’s when boys were definitely boys within the Capitol, and women were subjugated.

Flora’s ouster happened less than a year after he took the leadership role in 2025, succeeding outgoing leader James Gallagher.

Recent coverage highlighted Flora’s heavy spending from campaign funds at Sacramento dive bar Chargins. The New York Post just reported that Flora spent over $11,000 over many visits and multiple “meals” in a night.

Flora was the subject of ethics probes by the Fair Political Practices Commission, and a had reputation for drinking during the workday.

“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 across the state,” the NY Post reported. “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’s longstanding 2% local sales tax cap.”

Within hours of that report, Flora was out and Alexandra Macedo was in.

A former lobbyist publicly detailed extramarital affairs while Flora was married (and on a relevant committee), and recent reporting referenced additional relationships.

The Sacramento Bee reported:

“Flora does not live in the Central Valley home that is registered as his ‘legal domicile.’ Public documents show he collects taxpayer-funded per diem expenses during the legislative session despite apparently living full-time in Sacramento. Court records show he didn’t pay child support to his wife until a court-initiated wage garnishment. While married, he had an affair with a lobbyist, who detailed to The Bee for the first time how her life has changed in the aftermath. Expense records show he spent over $600,000 given to his political campaign by special interest groups, with a significant portion going to travel, lodging and meals.”

When we reported on Flora’s vote to increase taxes, a source told us that Flora is a leader in title only, and he is not calling the plays; that the rest of the Assembly Republicans are a tight group, and leading themselves. But his vote was out of the blue, and had to be pure self-interest.

Here is what Assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo (R-Tulare) told the Globe after voting NO on the tax increase:

“I voted no on SB 762 because I oppose raising taxes on Californians.

The cost of living in California has reached an all-time high, the Legislature must prioritize cutting costs for hardworking families – not increasing them. Raising taxes while the state collects record revenues is unacceptable.

I oppose new and higher taxes, and will continue fighting to lower costs for California families.”

Here is her announcement Monday:

Today, @AsmRepublicans elected me as the Assembly Minority Leader. I am deeply honored by their trust. Together, we will fight to protect families and small businesses from the relentless affordability crisis.

I want to thank Leader Emeritus @HeathFloraCA for his service and…

— Assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo (@AsmwomanMacedo) August 3, 2026

Today, @AsmRepublicans elected me as the Assembly Minority Leader. I am deeply honored by their trust. Together, we will fight to protect families and small businesses from the relentless affordability crisis. I want to thank Leader Emeritus @HeathFloraCA for his service and commitment to the caucus. Our leadership team is strong and diverse: @AsmTangipa as Minority Whip, @Joshua_Hoover as Minority Floor Leader @NatashaforCA as Minority Caucus Chair @Patterdude as Minority Deputy Leader.

Things are about to get interesting.

Oh, the Globe has been told that Heath Flora has a job lined up with a lobbying firm.