“Unlike places like Los Angeles, Kern County does not have dozens of members in the Legislature to represent our interests,” she said. “We need to make sure Kern is at the table to make our point of view heard.”

Rendon pulled Bains from the committee in March after she repeatedly aligned with Republicans against Newsom’s plan to limit the earnings of California companies. The bill was a priority for the Democratic governor, who spent months negotiating with legislative Democrats following a spike in gas prices last year.

When the measure arrived on the Assembly floor for a final vote, Bains was the only Democrat to vote against it. She also voted with Republicans during a procedural move to try and amend the bill to suspend the state gas tax.

Bains represents one of California’s major oil-producing areas and had already tacked to the right on energy issues, countering Newsom’s call to limit industry profits by introducing a measure to expand in-state oil production.

She drew the Newsom administration’s attention by declaring she was the “lone Democrat” to reject the profits cap bill because she did not want to “throw my constituents under the bus.” Newsom’s chief of staff mocked Bains in a tweet predicting she would remain “alone and confused.”

But Bains’ removal was primarily a matter of caucus politics. Committee assignments are one of the main levers for speakers to punish or reward members. In past years, Rendon yanked plum committee spots from one Democrat who voted against water legislation and another who was pursuing the speakership.