Assembly Republican Minority Leader Alexandra Macedo, who recently stepped into her leadership role, shared her perspective on the challenges and priorities facing her caucus during an interview on California Politics 360, along with her call for accountability in the high-speed rail project.
Call for High-Speed Rail CEO to step down
Macedo sent a letter to board overseeing the High-Speed Rail Authority, urging for the resignation or termination of the project CEO Ian Choudri. She cited the impermissible spending and a culture of waste.
“He has continued to allow a culture of waste to happen,” Macedo said, referencing the project inspector general reports of financial mismanagement, including first-class flights and luxury rideshares to escape rooms, and international travel expenses.
Macedo criticized the project’s lack of progress, saying, “We haven’t even laid a foot of track.” She described the situation as “the epitome of insanity” and urged new leadership to salvage the project.
She expressed frustration with Attorney General Rob Bonta after she said he did not respond to her letter, requesting his help with the issue. “He is the one that can slap handcuffs on the bad guys or make them show up in a courtroom and answer for breaking the law. And he hasn’t done that.”
Macedo accused Bonta of prioritizing political appearances over enforcing state laws, particularly regarding the high-speed rail authority’s violations.
Macedo concluded by emphasizing the importance of accountability and leadership in managing taxpayer dollars.
“If somebody breaks the law, they should be held accountable. And that is his job as the attorney general to make sure that happens,” she said.
The future of the Republican Party in California
Macedo abruptly became the leader of the Republicans in the State Assembly in the final weeks of California’s legislative session this summer. At 32, she is the youngest Republican leader in the state Assembly’s history.
She described her first months in the position as a “rocket ship” start, navigating the final month of the legislative session, wildfire issues, controversial bills, and backroom deals.
“I haven’t really had much time to say that I have my head above water, necessarily, but it’s been a wonderful learning experience,” Macedo said. She praised her caucus for its hard work and diverse backgrounds, saying, “That’s really going to make sure that the future of our caucus is successful.”
Looking ahead to November, Macedo expressed excitement about the prospect of new members joining the caucus and outlined her mission to protect and elect Republicans in challenging districts. “We have Republicans elected in districts that are very hard to win, that have Democrats favored registration,” she said, adding that voters are increasingly seeking solutions over partisanship.
Macedo criticized the Democratic supermajority, saying, “Democrats can’t defend Democrat policies anymore.” She recounted her father’s observation during her swearing-in ceremony about the predictability of partisan voting patterns, saying, “This is a street fight. We have to take the message to the people of California that are electing these Democrat politicians that continue to make their life more and more difficult.”
When asked if President Trump, whose approval rating is at a record low 27% in California, makes her responsibility of getting more Republicans elected, she acknowledged the challenges Republicans face in California.
“Every cycle is a tough cycle for Republicans in California,” she said.
Macedo pointed to divisions within the Democratic Party, including tensions between Democratic socialists and traditional Democrats, as an opportunity for Republicans to connect with politically disillusioned voters.
“We’re being very strategic and very targeted,” Macedo said, emphasizing the importance of messaging to voters about issues like high rent, gas prices, and insurance costs, which she attributed to failed Democratic policies. She stressed the need for balance in California politics, saying, “When you have balance here, that’s when good policy prevails, not just partisan politics.”
Macedo also addressed her relationship with Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, noting a rocky start after being removed from a committee early in her tenure.
Despite this, Macedo expressed hope for collaboration.
“At the end of the day, I think Speaker Rivas understands that there’s a lot of problems we have to solve in California, and it’s going to take Republicans and Republican votes to get that across the finish line,” she said.
