The Assembly Republican Caucus has unanimously elected Assemblymember Heath Flora (R–Ripon) as its next leader.
Assemblymember James Gallagher (R–East Nicolaus), who has led the caucus since 2022, announced the transition and will continue serving as Republican Leader through the end of the legislative session. He will officially step down on Sept. 16.
“Stepping aside was my decision, and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished,” Gallagher said. “Coming out of redistricting, people predicted we’d drop to 15 seats. Instead, we battled back, picked up seats, and won big fights on issues like fentanyl, human trafficking, and Prop 36. We’ve grown the caucus, sharpened our message, and we’re not done yet.
“I’m excited the caucus has chosen Heath Flora. He’s been my right hand, and I know he’ll take this team to the next level.”
Flora thanked his colleagues for their support: “I’m honored by the unanimous vote of my colleagues. Californians deserve a Republican Caucus that fights hard, communicates clearly, and never backs down. I’m ready to lead that fight.”
According to the caucus, under Gallagher’s leadership, Assembly Republicans expanded their ranks, flipped formerly unwinnable seats, and pushed forward debates on crime, affordability, and government accountability.
Both Gallagher and Flora emphasized unity moving forward, with a shared goal: to deliver solutions in Sacramento and rebuild trust with Californians who feel left behind.
