Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Gavin Newsom

A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Gavin Newsom.

Gavin Newsom is an American politician and businessman, currently serving as the 40th governor of California since 2019. A Democrat, he previously held the position of the 49th lieutenant governor of California from 2011 to 2019. Prior to his statewide roles, Newsom was the 42nd mayor of San Francisco, serving from 2004 to 2011. His career reflects a consistent involvement in California politics, progressing from local to state-level leadership.

Sections (5)

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

2000: Political Attacks and Contributions

In 2000, Gavin Newsom faced attacks related to his $500 contribution to a Republican slate mailer that endorsed issues he supported, during a partisan election cycle. He was also attacked due to his support of Ralph Nader in the 2000 presidential election

2000: Violating State Law by Issuing Marriage Licenses to Same-Sex Couples

In 2000, Newsom directed the San Francisco city-county clerk to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, violating a state law passed in 2000.

August 2004: Same-Sex Marriages Annulled

In August 2004, the Supreme Court of California annulled the same-sex marriages Gavin Newsom had authorized, citing conflict with state law. However, Newsom's actions brought national attention to the issue.

January 31, 2007: Alex Tourk Resigns After Affair Revelation

On January 31, 2007, Alex Tourk, Gavin Newsom's friend and campaign manager, resigned after learning from his wife, Ruby Rippey-Tourk, about her affair with Newsom in 2005.

2008: Opposition to Proposition 8

During the 2008 election, Gavin Newsom opposed Proposition 8, the ballot initiative to reverse the California Supreme Court's ruling on same-sex marriage. Some observers suggested that his comments in a commercial inadvertently contributed to the amendment's passage.

2009: Criticism for Sanctuary City Rule Implementation

In 2009, Gavin Newsom faced criticism from the San Francisco Democratic Party for not implementing the City of San Francisco's sanctuary city rule.

May 2012: The Gavin Newsom Show and Criticism for Sacramento Comments

In May 2012, Gavin Newsom began hosting "The Gavin Newsom Show" on Current TV. In the same month, he received criticism for calling Sacramento "dull" and implying he rarely needed to be there.

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February 24, 2017: Letter to Trump Administration on Cannabis Enforcement

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 and differentiating cannabis from opioids.

March 13, 2019: Newsom Declares Moratorium on Death Penalty

On March 13, 2019, Governor Newsom declared a moratorium on the state's death penalty, preventing any executions in California while he remains governor. The move also led to the withdrawal of the state's current lethal injection protocol and the execution chamber's closure at San Quentin State Prison.

January 2020: False Claims Regarding Wildfire Treatment

In January 2020, Newsom and Cal Fire falsely claimed that 90,000 acres of land at risk for wildfires had been treated with fuel breaks and prescribed burns; the actual treated area was only 11,399 acres.

February 21, 2020: Recall Petition Introduced

On February 21, 2020, a recall petition was introduced by Orrin Heatlie, citing Newsom's policies and grievances.

June 10, 2020: Recall Petition Approved for Circulation

On June 10, 2020, the California secretary of state approved the recall petition for circulation.

August 2020: Signatures Submitted and Verified for Recall

By August 2020, 55,000 signatures were submitted and verified by the secretary of state for the gubernatorial recall election.

October 2020: Additional Signatures Submitted for Recall

By October 2020, 890 new valid signatures were submitted for the gubernatorial recall election.

November 2020: The French Laundry Incident and Recall Support Growth

In November 2020, Newsom's attendance at a party at The French Laundry became a point of controversy, contributing to the growing support for the recall election. The French Laundry event took place on November 6, and between November 5 and December 7 over 442,000 new signatures were submitted and verified.

November 17, 2020: Initial Recall Signature Deadline

The recall petition was initially given a signature deadline of November 17, 2020, before being extended due to the pandemic.

January 2021: Report of Mismanagement of Unemployment Benefits

In January 2021, the Los Angeles Times reported that Newsom's administration had mismanaged $11.4 billion by disbursing unemployment benefits to ineligible claimants, especially those paid through the federally funded Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program. Another $19 billion in claims remained under investigation for fraud.

March 17, 2021: Extended Recall Signature Deadline

The deadline for submitting signatures for the gubernatorial recall election was extended to March 17, 2021.

June 10, 2021: Newsom Responds to Assault Weapon Ruling

On June 10, 2021, Gavin Newsom criticized federal Judge Roger Benitez after he struck down California's ban on assault weapons and proposed legislation empowering private citizens to enforce the ban.

June 23, 2021: CapRadio Report on False Claims Regarding Wildfire Treatment

On June 23, 2021, CapRadio reported that Gavin Newsom and Cal Fire had falsely claimed in January 2020 that 90,000 acres of land at risk for wildfires had been treated; the actual treated area was 11,399 acres. Leaked emails also showed Newsom's Cal Fire chief ordered the removal of the original statement on June 23, 2021.

December 2021: Newsom Announces California as Abortion "Sanctuary"

In December 2021, Gavin Newsom announced his intention to make California a "sanctuary" for abortion, which included the possibility of paying for abortion procedures, travel, and lodging for out-of-state abortion seekers if the procedure was banned in Republican-led states.

2021: California Owed $23 Billion for Unemployment Benefits

According to The Sacramento Bee, by the summer of 2021, California owed $23 billion to the federal government for unemployment benefits paid out during the pandemic.

2021: Newsom Sees No Conflict in Wife's Nonprofit Donations

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

January 13, 2022: Newsom Denies Parole to Sirhan Sirhan

On January 13, 2022, Gavin Newsom denied parole to Sirhan Sirhan, Robert F. Kennedy's assassin, after serving 53 years in prison.

January 2022: Newsom Directed Dismantling Death Row in 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", as all the condemned inmates were moving to other prisons that have maximum security facilities.

April 2022: CapRadio Finds Program Failed to Make Progress

In April 2022, CapRadio reported 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 Walking Back Support for Universal Health Care

In early 2022, Gavin Newsom was criticized for walking back his support for universal health care and not supporting CalCare, Assembly Bill 1400, which would have instituted single-payer healthcare in California. Critics suggested that opposition from business interests had swayed his opinion.

January 2023: Record Number of Homeless in California

The number of homeless reached a record 181,000 in California in January 2023. According to some, to cope with this problem, California must build more than 2.5 million housing units.

March 2023: Newsom Announces End to Business with Walgreens

In March 2023, after Walgreens announced it would refuse to dispense abortion pills in states where it is illegal, Gavin Newsom tweeted that California would no longer do business with Walgreens and considered cancelling their $54 million contract with the California state prison system, as well as Walgreens' $1.5 billion contract for filling prescriptions for the state's Medi-Cal program.

June 8, 2023: Newsom Proposes 28th Amendment

On June 8, 2023, Gavin Newsom proposed a 28th amendment to the U.S. Constitution to raise the age to buy firearms to 21, institute universal background checks, mandate waiting periods, and ban assault weapons for civilians. Law professor Erwin Chemerinsky criticized the idea.

October 2023: Veto of Bill Banning Discrimination Based on Caste

In October 2023, Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill to ban discrimination based on caste, calling it "unnecessary" and adding that California "already prohibits discrimination based on sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and other characteristics, and state law specifies that these civil rights protections shall be liberally construed."

February 2024: Newsom Pushed for Panera Bread Exemption

In February 2024, Bloomberg News reported that Newsom pushed for an exemption for businesses that bake and sell bread, including Panera Bread bakery-cafes owned by Greg Flynn, in AB 1228, a bill raising the state's minimum wage for fast food workers.

September 2024: Newsom Signs AB 3206

In September 2024, Gavin Newsom signed AB 3206 into law, carving out an exception to the state's last call alcohol law for Intuit Dome, owned by former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. Ethics experts criticized the bill due to a donation from Balmer's wife, Connie Ballmer, to Newsom's campaign in 2021.

October 2024: Newsom Vetoed Assembly Bill 2693

In October 2024, Gavin Newsom vetoed Assembly Bill 2693, which sought to extend the statute of limitations for those sexually abused in juvenille facilities.

April 2025: Newsom Criticized for Comment on Deportation

In April 2025, Newsom called the illegal deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador "the distraction of the day," leading to criticism from U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen.

June 2025: Newsom Objects to Troop Deployment

In June 2025, following federal immigration raids and protests in Los Angeles, President Trump federalized California National Guard troops and deployed U.S. Marines. Newsom objected, calling it an unconstitutional overreach.

2025: Newsom Vetoed Senate Bill 274

In 2025, Gavin Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 274, which would have expanded the rules and regulations on law enforcement agencies, in California, use of automated license plate readers, stating that the proposed regulations, which would have required police to better document their searches and delete unused data within 60 days, could hinder police work.