Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Gavin Newsom

1978: Cited Statistics on Capital Punishment Costs

In 2012, Newsom referenced that California had spent $5 billion since 1978 to execute just 13 people, while supporting a failed measure to end capital punishment.

2000: Attacks against Newsom

Attacks were made against Newsom for contributing $500 to a Republican slate mailer in 2000 that endorsed issues Newsom supported.

2000: Violating a State Law

In 2004 Gavin Newsom violated a state law passed in 2000 when he directed the San Francisco city-county clerk to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

August 2004: Newsom Directs Issuance of Same-Sex Marriage Licenses

In August 2004, Gavin Newsom, then mayor of San Francisco, directed the city-county clerk to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, violating state law and bringing national attention to the issue.

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.

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.

May 2012: Newsom Begins Hosting "The Gavin Newsom Show" and Faces Criticism

In May 2012, Gavin Newsom began hosting "The Gavin Newsom Show" on Current TV. During the same month, he faced criticism for describing Sacramento as 'dull' and stating he was only there once a week.

2012: Newsom Supports Failed Measure to End Capital Punishment

In 2012, Gavin Newsom supported a failed measure that aimed to end capital punishment in California, arguing it would save the state millions of dollars.

2012: California Voters Uphold Capital Punishment

In 2012, voters upheld capital punishment in California, setting the stage for future debates on the issue.

2016: California Voters Uphold Capital Punishment Again

In 2016, California voters again upheld capital punishment and agreed to move condemned inmates to other prisons.

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.

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."

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.

March 13, 2019: Newsom Declares Moratorium on Death Penalty

On March 13, 2019, Gavin Newsom declared a moratorium on the state's death penalty, halting executions and closing the execution chamber at San Quentin State Prison.

September 2019: Newsom Vetoes SB 1

In September 2019, Newsom vetoed SB 1, which would have preserved environmental protections at the state level that were set to roll back nationally under the Trump administration's environmental policy.

November 2019: Moratorium on Hydraulic Fracturing

In November 2019, Newsom imposed a moratorium on approval of new hydraulic fracturing and steam-injected oil drilling in the state until permits could be reviewed by an independent panel of scientists.

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.

April 2020: Resumption of Hydraulic Fracturing Permits

In April 2020, state agencies resumed issuing new hydraulic fracturing permits.

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.

September 2020: Newsom Signs Bill on Transgender Inmate Housing

In September 2020, Gavin Newsom signed into law a bill allowing California transgender inmates to be placed in prisons that correspond with their gender identity, though the request can be denied based on "management or security concerns".

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

2021: Newsom on Wife's Nonprofit Donations

In 2021, Governor Newsom stated that he saw no conflict in his wife's nonprofit accepting donations from companies that lobby his administration.

2021: Poll Suggests Declining Support for Death Penalty

In 2021, a poll suggested declining support for the death penalty among California voters, highlighting a shift in public opinion.

January 13, 2022: Newsom Denies Parole to Sirhan Sirhan

On January 13, 2022, Gavin Newsom denied parole to Sirhan Sirhan, the assassin of Robert F. Kennedy, citing Sirhan's lack of insight and refusal to accept responsibility for his actions.

January 2022: Newsom Directs Dismantling of Death Row at San Quentin

In January 2022, Gavin Newsom directed the state to begin dismantling its death row in San Quentin, to be transformed into a 'space for rehabilitation programs'.

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: Opposition to NIMBYism

In 2022, Newsom declared that "NIMBYism is destroying the state", reinforcing his stance against local opposition to housing development.

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.

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.

February 2024: Exemption for Bakeries in Minimum Wage Bill

In February 2024, it was reported that Newsom pushed for an exemption for businesses that bake and sell bread in AB 1228, a bill that raises the state's minimum wage for fast food workers, benefitting a donor to Newsom's campaigns.

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.

September 2024: Exception to Alcohol Law for Intuit Dome

In September 2024, the Los Angeles Times reported that Newsom had signed AB 3206 into law, carving out an exception to the state's last call alcohol law for Intuit Dome, owned by Steve Ballmer, whose wife donated $1 million to the Newsom campaign in 2021.

December 2024: Newsom Criticizes Biden's Pardon of Hunter Biden

In December 2024, Gavin Newsom criticized President Biden for pardoning his son Hunter Biden, stating, "I’m disappointed and can’t support the decision."

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.