by Roger Riffenburgh
After returning from to Sacramento on August 3 from their break, Assembly Republicans elected Tulare Assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo as their new caucus leader, replacing Heath Flora. Macedo appointed a new leadership team including Whip David Tangipa (Fresno), Floor Leader Josh Hoover (Folsom), Caucus Chair Natasha Johnson (Lake Elsinore), and Deputy Leader: Joe Patterson (Rocklin).
In her statement, Macedo said, “Our message is clear: California is becoming unaffordable for working families, and our caucus is united in the fight to bring down the cost of living, make our communities safer and hold state bureaucrats accountable.” California Republican Party Chair Corrin Rankin said that Macedo represents a “a new generation of Republican leadership in California.”
Alexandra Macedo’s win was particularly impressive in light of the fact that she is a 32-year-old freshman legislator. Macedo gained attention in two notable issues in recent times. As legislative Democrats prepared to put their gerrymandered congressional district map plan on the ballot in 2025, the Elections Committee held hearings to consider the legislation. Alexandra Macedo, then the vice-chair of the committee, first asked for additional time for proper review, as the Republicans had received the maps less than 24 hours before the meeting. She asked repeatedly who had drawn the maps, but was shut down on both issues by the committee chair, who had Macedo’s microphone turned off. However, it was a revealing moment of the Democrats’ deception and a viral moment for Ali Macedo. She described it later in this video.
The spotlight was on Alexandra Macedo again after accusations of fraudulent state payments to many hospices in the San Fernando Valley. Macedo showed up personally at the buildings where dozens of licensees were registered in small buildings. Her presence helped illuminate the fraudulent situation.
All five of the new Republican Assembly leaders are in either their first or second term in the state Assembly. Some have visited the Bay Area recently. Ali Macedo spoke at SPARC in October 2025. David Tangipa spoke to both to the Solano Republican Women Federated and also to SPARC in April 2026. Joe Patterson served as the Executive Director of the Lincoln Club of Northern California from 2011 to 2014.
Alexandra Macedo was born and raised in Tulare in the Central Valley. She was always interested in agriculture. She earned her BS in Business Law at Cal State University Northridge. She partnered with her mother Tina in Macedo Engineering & Consulting, Inc, to provide support for dairy and crop farmers. While working, she saw the need for agricultural lawyers and earned her law degree at San Joaquin College of Law in Clovis. Her work increasingly involved dealing with state resource and agricultural agencies. She also supported two long-time family businesses, almond farming and the Tulare Sales Yard livestock market. One can learn more about Ali Macedo on her campaign website.
