Heath Flora, the highest Republican within the California Meeting, is going through two state ethics investigations and could possibly be getting ready to a management combat after he infuriated his get together by siding with Democrats to permit tax hikes throughout the state, The Publish has realized.
A number of Capitol insiders informed The Publish that Flora is going through blowback after he and fellow Republican Assemblymember Juan Alanis voted for Senate Invoice 762 final month, which can enable 13 cities and counties to ask voters to exceed California’s longstanding 2% native gross sales tax cap.
“We’re disenchanted by our state assemblyman and listening to from constituents,” Stanislaus County Republican Celebration Chairman Joel Campos informed The Publish.
Flora acquired simply 30.6% of the vote within the June major election in Stanislaus County — the bottom stage of help for any incumbent state legislator and the entire Republican events inside his district declined to endorse him.
“Simply seeing his expense stories, from golf programs all through your complete state to Las Vegas Raiders journeys to all of the bars that he bills, we don’t suppose that is applicable habits for the minority chief,” Campos mentioned.
In the meantime, for the reason that controversial vote, The Publish has realized Flora is going through two state ethics probes by the Truthful Political Practices Fee: one from October 2025 over behested funds, that are donations during which a authorities official acts as an middleman; and a second investigation wanting into a possible misuse of marketing campaign funds.
State data present Flora — who didn’t reply to requests for remark — has been on a tear searching for cash from particular pursuits since Might 2023, appearing as an middleman on greater than $1.15 million in behested funds. Many of those donations got here from entities with enterprise earlier than the Legislature.
A grievance was filed in October 2025.
“The issue with that [GOP minority leader] title is he simply voted for a tax improve, in order that title turns into a legal responsibility for us,” mentioned a supply throughout the Republican caucus.
A second Capitol insider mentioned Flora’s vote crossed a “crimson line” whereas one other supply informed The Publish: “He’s a frontrunner in identify solely.”
“He doesn’t truly lead,” the supply added. “He’s nearer to the Democrats than he’s a frontrunner to the Republicans.”
The second grievance with the Truthful Political Practices Fee alleging a misuse of marketing campaign funds was filed on March 4 in opposition to Flora, his 2026 reelection committee and Kelly Lawler, founding father of the marketing campaign finance agency The KAL Group.
Nevertheless, a supply informed The Publish that Lawler stepped down from her position as treasurer in early 2024, and marketing campaign data verify that Flora has acted as his personal treasurer whereas racking up extravagant marketing campaign expenditures.
Flora’s marketing campaign data present frequent sporting occasions and golf outings — he has expensed “golf provides” for expenses listed as conferences at programs throughout the nation — however no cost has appeared extra steadily over the past yr and a half than Chargins’ Bar & Grill.
The dank neighborhood dive bar in East Sac has lifeless animal skulls and messages in chalk adorning the partitions, and saloon doorways guarding the lads’s room bathroom.
Almost each one in all Flora’s bills on the dive bar since April 2025 — 54 tabs totaling greater than $11,500 in expenses — was described as a “District Assembly.”
Flora’s place as GOP minority chief was questioned nearly instantly after he was appointed final yr, when the Sacramento Bee printed a bombshell report on his affair with a former lobbyist, Emily Hughes, in addition to lacking youngster help funds to his ex-wife.
Flora additionally was discovered to not be residing in his district, leaving his Central Valley constituents steadily questioning what the previous farmer and firefighter is doing along with his time — and who was representing their pursuits in Sacramento.
Hughes, the previous lobbyist who had an affair with Flora when he was nonetheless married, informed The Publish that Flora routinely drinks on the job and is understood to abuse marketing campaign cash.
“Everyone seems to be aware of his extreme consuming,” Hughes informed The Publish.
“The Legislature is his personal highschool recognition contest. He’s there to drink and be the favored child in highschool that he by no means was.”
A GOP caucus supply confirmed to The Publish that Flora has developed a fame for not solely partying but in addition consuming whereas doing official state enterprise on the Capitol.
“He all the time has alcohol on his breath. Not simply marathon classes — even in the course of the day,” the supply mentioned.
Flora’s most costly “meal” at Chargins was a $1,908.86 tab on Sept. 3, 2025, which is spectacular contemplating the menu on the East Sac neighborhood hang-out consists of low cost pub grub like fried hen, hamburgers and scorching canines. The highest delicacy on the menu seems to be a $15 seafood gumbo.
Flora additionally reported having a number of meals on the dive bar on the identical evening.
On June 16, 2025, Flora’s marketing campaign committee — he’s at present searching for a sixth and closing time period within the Legislature — reported two separate bills totaling $254.24. Two extra expenses totaling $608.31 had been reported on Sept. 6, 2025, whereas Sept. 11 of that yr featured two extra expenditures for $221.77.
On Nov. 13, 2025, the committee reported three separate “Meal for District Assembly” expenses totaling $308.66. Two extra expenses had been reported on April 18, 2026, totaling $279.16.
The Legislature was in session on not less than two of those dates.
Steve Mavigilio, a veteran Democratic political strategist, couldn’t assist however chuckle when he heard in regards to the startling variety of “conferences” Flora has held at Chargins,
“It’s actually eyebrow elevating,” he mentioned, “as a result of these bills don’t seem on their face to be authentic — for anybody who has ever patronized that institution.”
Sources on the Capitol mentioned that Flora’s boozing and comfortable relationship with lobbyists has develop into problematic, because the gross sales tax vote provided cowl to Democratic legislators in fierce reelection battles.
“Our entire message this election cycle goes to be based mostly on affordability, and that vote threatens our message,” one supply mentioned.
Legislators are at present on break for the July recess, however anger over Flora’s tax vote has not subsided. The supply throughout the Republican caucus mentioned that Flora’s time in management could possibly be coming to an finish.
“Our tackle Heath Flora is {that a} bunch of the lobbyists like him, so perhaps he can increase cash from lobbyists [as GOP minority leader],” the supply mentioned.
“However when it comes all the way down to critical coverage performs, shaping our message and defining our marketing campaign technique for the autumn, Heath Flora shouldn’t be concerned in that.”
Flora has not responded to The Publish’s requests for touch upon any of those allegations.
