THE BUZZ: Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas is shaking up the lower chamber – and removing one of his close allies from a key position. A holiday week leadership reorganization includes the ouster of Assemblymember Isaac Bryan as majority leader. The move was the biggest surprise in a broad overhaul that marks the first major display of power in the Rivas era — and unmistakably a downgrade of Bryan, an ambitious pol who had talked up his close ties to the speaker. Bryan will now head the Natural Resources committee. Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry ascends from speaker pro tempore to take over as majority leader. Assemblymember Jim Wood shifts into the speaker pro tempore spot. Shortly after the new assignments dropped, lobbyists in the Capitol pointed out that Bryan had been talking up his power as majority leader in Los Angeles circles, going so far as to brand himself as the “Speaker for LA” at a virtual meet-and-greet with the LA County Business Federation earlier this year, an episode that was recapped in a newsletter to members of the organization. “My brother Speaker Rivas is really one of my best friends. But he’s not from here,” Bryan is quoted as saying in the BizFed newsletter. After the announcement became public late Tuesday, Bryan appeared to take a veiled shot at the speaker by noting that his formal leadership ranks now were without a Black member. Bryan in a statement said “it’s up to those of us who were vital in uplifting” Rivas to enact his “vision,” adding “that “Black Californians who now see no representation” in Rivas’ leadership team are “certainly not absent leaders.” Bryan, an early and fervent Rivas supporter, hasn’t been coy about his own speakership ambitions. He told Playbook earlier this year that he had approached former Speaker Anthony Rendon about a shot at the top job shortly after his election to the Legislature, and that he had been considering his own bid before Rivas made his move. Rivas’ office insists that Bryan is not being punished. They contended his previous role had been part of a temporary transition team — meant to shepherd the body through the end of the year — and that he remains an important part of the speaker’s team. “Everyone always knew this was a transition team and there would be changes to leadership,” Rivas' Director of Communications Nick Miller said. “Isaac is a tremendous leader and continues to be part of the speaker’s leadership team.” Miller added that the speaker is proud that every Assembly Black Legislative Caucus member returning after the 2024 session is “in a powerful and tremendously impactful leadership position, chairing key committees, including budget subcommittees, Health, Transportation, Natural Resources and Public Safety.” Majority leader is a major role, and whoever holds the position is often seen as an extension of the speaker’s office, making Bryan’s transition to a committee chair a conspicuous change as Rivas heads into his first full term leading the lower chamber. News of the change came as much of Sacramento was shutting down for the Thanksgiving holiday. Rivas also gave prime positions to two other top allies: He appointed Jesse Gabriel as head of the powerful budget committee and Buffy Wicks as chair of the appropriations committee. Other notable changes included installing Mia Bonta as health chair, and Kevin McCarty as chair of the public safety committee. Here’s the breakdown of the new committee chairs:
- Appropriations: Buffy Wicks.
- Arts, Entertainment, Sports and Tourism: Mike Gipson
- Budget: Jesse Gabriel.
- Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials: Eduardo Garcia
- Governmental organization: Blanca Rubio
- Health: Mia Bonta
- Housing and Community Development: Chris Ward
- Human Services: Alex Lee
- Judiciary: Ash Kalra
- Labor and Employment: Liz Ortega
- Natural Resources: Isaac Bryan
- Privacy and Consumer Protection: Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
- Public Safety: Kevin McCarty
- Rules: Blanca Pacheco
- Transportation: Lori Wilson
- Utilities and Energy: Cottie Petrie-Norris
- Water, Parks and Wildlife: Diane Papan
— with help from Melanie Mason GOOD MORNING. Happy Wednesday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. PROGRAMMING NOTE: We’ll be off for Thanksgiving this Thursday and Friday but back to our normal schedule on Monday, Nov. 27. We hope you have a great Turkey Day. | 
