Did Assembly Republican Leaders Sell Out The Caucus or just Themselves?

Thursday July 2, 2026, Republican Minority Leader Heath Flora and Republican Caucus Chair Juan Alanis voted to pass Senate Bill 762, a significant transactions and use tax increase on 14 cities and counties, while the rest of the caucus voted NO, the Globe reported this week.

When Republicans vote for tax increases, that alone is enough of an ideological violation. But when Republican leadership votes to pass increases, that vote represents the entire Republican Caucus. Or does it?

Were Leaders Flora and Alanis representing their caucus, or themselves? And, are Assembly Republicans mad? Disgusted? Do they feel violated? Or is something else going on?

Did Flora and Alanis sell out their own caucus, and in doing so, sell out the people? For what? What did Flora and Alanis get in return (from the Speaker?) for providing cover for several Assembly Democrats who laid off of the bill because they didn’t want the tax increase vote on their record as they run for reelection?

So two Republicans agreed to take the arrows for Democrats? Why? Inquiring minds want to know!

The Globe contacted each of the Assembly Republican Caucus members and/or their Capitol offices, and asked if they support their caucus leaders’ votes to increase taxes, or if they oppose it. We asked for any comments they had about this vote.

First, here is the entire Assembly floor vote on SB 762, where you can see most of the members of the Assembly Republican Caucus voted NO on the bill:

Several members were not present for the vote.

A source did tell us that Health 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 the rundown, with a few comments from members. Note that this is the week after the Independence Day holiday weekend, and the Legislature is on break until August 3rd.

Assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo (R-Tulare): voted NO:

“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.”

Assemblywoman Natasha Johnson (R-Riverside): voted NO:

“I voted no on SB 762 which will yet again raise taxes on Californians. The cost-of-living crisis in California has reached an all-time high. The Legislature should be finding ways to cut costs for hardworking families – not increasing them. With record revenues in an upcycle, we should be looking to save and provide relief, not raise taxes. I firmly oppose new and increased taxes, Californians need relief, and I will continue to fight for them.”

Assemblyman David Tangipa (R-Fresno) voted NO:

“I do not support the State giving local governments new options to raise taxes when we already have a record budget with record revenue.
If California has more money than ever before in our history and things are still broken, then this is clearly not a revenue problem, it’s a spending problem.”

Assemblywoman Heather Hadwick (R-Redding): Voted NO but was “out of pocket” and unavailable for comment.

Assemblyman Joe Patterson (R-Rocklin): Voted NO, and his office said “all that we know is how he voted…NO.”

Assemblyman Josh Hoover (R-Sacramento): Voted NO. We did not hear back from his office.

Assemblyman Stan Ellis (R-Bakersfield): No vote recorded on SB 762. His office said, he “was unavailable for last Thursday’s vote on SB 762. Had he been present, he would have voted No. He does not support raising taxes at this time.”

Assemblyman Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale): No vote recorded on SB 762. We did not hear back from his office.

Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez (R-Indio): Voted NO. We did not hear back from his office.

Assemblyman Greg Wallis (R-Rancho Mirage): Voted NO. We did not hear back from his office.

Assemblywoman Leticia Castillo (R-Corona): Voted NO. We did not hear back from her office.

Assemblyman Phillip Chen (R-Brea): No vote recorded on SB 762. We did not hear back from his office.

Assemblyman Trin Ta (R-Westminster): Voted NO. His intern appeared to be having trouble with the phones and hung up on me twice. We did not hear back from his office after that.

Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez (R-Rancho Santa Margarita): No vote recorded on SB 762.

“As the Vice Chair of the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee, I voted NO on SB 762 when it came before me. Sacramento needs to understand, Californians are fed up with tax increases and want our government to cut its excess waste and return to focusing on its core functions.”

Assemblywoman Diane Dixon (R-Newport Beach): Voted NO. Her office said they would get a hold of her. We haven’t heard back yet.

Assemblywoman Laurie Davies (R-Laguna Niguel): Voted NO. We did not hear back from her office.

Assemblyman Carl DeMaio (R-San Diego): Voted NO. We have not heard back from him largely because he is filling in on KFI for John Kobylt.

We will update the article when we hear back from any of the lawmakers. 

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.

According to the California Taxpayers Association and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, “…The transactions and use tax is a regressive tax that has the most harmful impact on low-income residents because it makes it more expensive for these taxpayers to purchase everyday necessities. Inflation has increased the cost of most goods, which in turn increases the sales tax that is imposed as a percentage of the retail price. Adding to the cost of living with a sales tax increase would harm Californians and disproportionately impact the state’s most vulnerable residents. ”

And Republican Minority Leader Heath Flora and Republican Caucus Chair Juan Alanis, who both represent rural counties, voted to pass this.

I hope the rewards were worth it.