Challenges Faced by Gavin Newsom: Obstacles and Turning Points

Life is full of challenges, and Gavin Newsom faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.

Gavin Newsom is an American politician and businessman currently serving as the 40th governor of California since 2019. A Democrat, he previously served as the 49th Lieutenant Governor of California from 2011 to 2019 and as the 42nd Mayor of San Francisco from 2004 to 2011. He has held prominent political positions within California, shaping policies and leading the state.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

2005: Newsom Had Affair With Ruby Rippey-Tourk

In 2005, Gavin Newsom had an affair with Ruby Rippey-Tourk, his appointments secretary, which later led to the resignation of Alex Tourk, Rippey-Tourk's husband, in January 2007.

January 31, 2007: Alex Tourk Resigns After Newsom Affair is Revealed

On January 31, 2007, Alex Tourk resigned as Newsom's campaign manager and former chief of staff after learning of Newsom's affair with his wife, Ruby Rippey-Tourk, which occurred in 2005.

February 2007: Newsom Announces He Will Seek Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder

In February 2007, Gavin Newsom announced that he would seek treatment for alcohol use disorder.

2008: Newsom Opposes Proposition 8

In 2008, Gavin Newsom opposed Proposition 8, a ballot initiative to reverse the Supreme Court of California ruling on same-sex marriage. Footage of Newsom saying "This door's wide open now. It's going to happen, whether you like it or not," was used in a commercial by Proposition 8 supporters, potentially influencing the amendment's passage.

2009: Criticism for Sanctuary City Rule Failure

In 2009, Gavin Newsom came under attack from the San Francisco Democratic Party for his failure to implement the city's sanctuary city rule.

2010: Newsom Drops Out of Gubernatorial Race, Runs for Lieutenant Governor

In 2010, Gavin Newsom dropped out of the race for governor due to low poll numbers and instead ran for lieutenant governor.

2016: Newsom Supports Proposition 62 to Repeal Death Penalty

In 2016, Gavin Newsom supported Proposition 62, which sought to repeal the death penalty in California. He argued against the death penalty citing racial disparities and moral grounds, but the proposition failed.

February 24, 2017: Newsom Urges Trump Administration to Not Increase Federal Enforcement Against Cannabis Firms

On February 24, 2017, Gavin Newsom sent a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and President Donald Trump urging them not to increase federal enforcement against recreational cannabis firms in California, advocating for a partnership with the state.

2018: Rippey-Tourk Comments on Affair

In 2018, Ruby Rippey-Tourk said that she thought it wrong to associate Newsom's behavior with the #MeToo movement: "I was a subordinate, but I was also a free-thinking, 33-yr old adult married woman and mother. I do want to make sure that the #metoo movement is reserved for cases and situations that deserve it."

2018: Paradise Fire

The 2018 fire that destroyed the town of Paradise, where at least eight evacuees burned to death in their vehicles, was the reason why the Newsom administration created fuel breaks.

January 2019: Housing Shortage Actions

In late January 2019, Newsom announced that he would sue Huntington Beach for preventing the construction of affordable housing, signaling his commitment to addressing California's housing shortage.

February 2019: State of the State Address

In his February 2019 State of the State address, Newsom announced that work would continue on the Central Valley segment of the high speed rail from Bakersfield to Merced, while the rest of the system would be indefinitely postponed due to cost overruns and delays.

2019: Response to Mass Shootings

In 2019, following the mass shooting in Virginia Beach, Newsom called for nationwide background checks on ammunition purchases. Later in 2019, responding to the Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting, he expressed support for the Second Amendment but advocated for national cooperation in controlling "weapons of goddamned mass destruction," also noting the gender of the shooters as a factor.

January 2020: False Claims Regarding Wildfire Prevention

In January 2020, Newsom and Cal Fire falsely claimed that 90,000 acres (36,000 ha) of land at risk for wildfires had been treated with fuel breaks and prescribed burns, though this was later found to be a significant overstatement.

February 21, 2020: Recall Petition Introduced Against Newsom

On February 21, 2020, a recall petition was introduced against Gavin Newsom by Orrin Heatlie, citing various grievances.

March 4, 2020: Newsom Declares State of Emergency for COVID-19

On March 4, 2020, Newsom declared a state of emergency in California following the first COVID-19 death, allowing state agencies to procure equipment and services, share patient information, and alleviate restrictions on state-owned properties to manage the spread of the virus.

March 22, 2020: Newsom Declares State of Emergency for Wildfires

On March 22, 2020, Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency due to a mass die-off of trees, increasing the risk of wildfires in preparation for the 2020 wildfire season.

June 10, 2020: Recall Petition Approved for Circulation

On June 10, 2020, the California secretary of state approved the recall petition against Gavin Newsom for circulation, allowing signatures to be gathered.

August 2020: Signatures Submitted and Verified for Newsom Recall

By August 2020, 55,000 signatures were submitted and verified by the secretary of state for the recall attempt against Gavin Newsom.

October 2020: Additional Signatures Submitted for Newsom Recall

By October 2020, 890 new valid signatures were submitted for the recall attempt against Gavin Newsom.

November 2020: Newsom Attends Party at The French Laundry

In November 2020, Gavin Newsom's attendance at a party at The French Laundry drew criticism and fueled support for the recall effort.

November 17, 2020: Initial Signature Deadline for Newsom Recall

The initial signature deadline for the recall petition against Gavin Newsom was November 17, 2020, before it was extended due to the pandemic.

2020: Newsom Compares Recall Effort to Presidential Election

During the 2021 recall campaign, Newsom drew parallels between the recall and attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election, highlighting perceived threats to democratic processes.

2020: Homelessness as Top Issue

In 2020, a poll revealed that California voters considered homelessness the most pressing issue for Newsom and the state legislature to address.

2020: Stringent Pandemic Restrictions

In 2020, the Newsom administration enacted some of the country's most stringent pandemic restrictions.

January 2021: California's Low Vaccination Rate

By January 2021, California had one of the lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the country, having used only about 30% of available vaccines.

January 2021: Report of Mismanaged Unemployment Benefits

In January 2021, it was reported that Newsom's administration had mismanaged $11.4 billion by disbursing unemployment benefits to ineligible claimants.

February 2021: Newsom's Approval Rating Drops

In February 2021, a poll found that Newsom's approval rate dropped to 46%, with 48% disapproval, attributed to public opinion of his management of the pandemic.

March 17, 2021: Extended Deadline for Newsom Recall Signatures

The signature deadline for the recall petition against Gavin Newsom was extended to March 17, 2021, due to a court ruling related to the pandemic.

May 2021: California's COVID-19 Death Rate

By May 2021, California had the 29th-highest COVID-19 death rate among all 50 states, despite stringent pandemic restrictions.

June 10, 2021: Criticism of Judge Roger Benitez

On June 10, 2021, Newsom criticized federal Judge Roger Benitez as "a stone cold ideologue" and "a wholly owned subsidiary of the gun lobby of the National Rifle Association" after Benitez struck down California's ban on assault weapons. Newsom also proposed legislation to empower private citizens to enforce the ban.

June 23, 2021: Report on False Claims Regarding Wildfire Prevention

On June 23, 2021, CapRadio reported that Newsom and Cal Fire had falsely claimed in January 2020 that 90,000 acres of land at risk for wildfires had been treated, when the actual treated area was 11,399 acres.

September 14, 2021: Newsom Prevails in Recall Election

On September 14, 2021, the recall election was held, and only 38% voted to recall Gavin Newsom, allowing him to remain in office.

2021: Faced Recall Effort

In 2021, Gavin Newsom faced an unsuccessful recall effort due to criticism surrounding his leadership style and the COVID-19 pandemic response.

April 2022: Report on Failed Fire Prevention Program

In April 2022, a report found that a program hailed in 2020 by the Newsom administration to fast-track environmental reviews on high-priority fire prevention projects had failed to make progress.

2022: Criticism for Universal Healthcare Stance

In early 2022, Newsom faced criticism for walking back from his support for universal health care and not supporting Assembly Bill 1400, which would have instituted single-payer health care in California. Critics suggested that business interests, which had donated large sums to Newsom and his party, influenced his stance.

January 2023: Homelessness Record

In January 2023, California's homeless population hit a record number of over 181,000.

March 2023: Walgreens Controversy

In March 2023, after Walgreens announced it would refuse to dispense abortion pills in 21 states where it is illegal, Newsom declared that California would cease doing business with Walgreens. He criticized Walgreens for cowering to "right-wing bullies" and endangering women's lives.

June 8, 2023: Proposed 28th Amendment

On June 8, 2023, Newsom proposed a 28th amendment to the U.S. Constitution that aimed to raise the age to buy firearms to 21, institute universal background checks, mandate waiting periods, and ban assault weapons for civilians. This proposal was met with mixed reactions and concerns over the potential for a constitutional convention.

October 2023: Veto of Insulin Co-Pay Cap

In October 2023, Newsom vetoed a bill intended to cap co-pays for diabetic insulin at $35.

October 2023: Veto of Labor Bills

In October 2023, Newsom vetoed a bill that would provide unemployment insurance to striking workers and another bill that expanded the mandatory warning period for laid-off employees. He cited concerns about the burden on the state's unemployment system.

October 2023: Veto of Caste Discrimination Ban

In October 2023, Newsom vetoed a bill to ban discrimination based on caste, calling it "unnecessary". This decision was met with both praise from Hindu rights organizations and sharp criticism from advocates for the rights of Dalits and other oppressed castes.

October 2023: Veto of Housing Assistance Bills

In October 2023, Newsom vetoed several bills aimed at expanding access to housing assistance, including one to repurpose state-owned land, another to expand eligibility, and a third to mandate Medi-Cal cover housing assistance costs.

November 2023: Newsom and DeSantis Debate on Fox News

In November 2023, Gavin Newsom and Ron DeSantis engaged in a debate moderated by Sean Hannity on Fox News, addressing their differing political views.

August 2024: Homeless Encampment Removal Warning

In August 2024, Newsom warned counties that failed to remove homeless encampments that their state funding would be cut off the next year. This warning came after he personally visited and cleared out a Los Angeles homeless encampment.

2024: Newsom Calls for California Lawmakers to Convene After Trump's Election

After Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election, Gavin Newsom called for California lawmakers to convene later in 2024 to safeguard California's policies from the upcoming Trump administration.

2024: Parental Notification Bill Signed

In 2024, Newsom signed a bill into law that prohibits schools from notifying parents about a minor student's gender identity without the student's consent, leading to criticism from parents and conservative organizations.