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 member of the Democratic Party, his political career includes serving as the 49th lieutenant governor of California from 2011 to 2019 and as the 42nd mayor of San Francisco from 2004 to 2011. He is a prominent figure in California politics.

Sections (5)

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

2000: Contributed to Republican Slate Mailer

In 2000, Gavin Newsom faced attacks for contributing $500 to a Republican slate mailer that endorsed issues he supported.

August 2004: Supreme Court Annulment of Same-Sex Marriages

In August 2004, the Supreme Court of California annulled the same-sex marriages that Newsom had authorized, because they conflicted with state law.

2005: Newsom Has Affair with Ruby Rippey-Tourk

In 2005, Gavin Newsom had an affair with Ruby Rippey-Tourk, who was his appointments secretary at the time. This affair led to the resignation of Alex Tourk, Rippey-Tourk's husband, when it was revealed in 2007.

January 31, 2007: Alex Tourk Resigns After Affair Revelation

On January 31, 2007, Gavin Newsom's close friend, campaign manager, and former chief of staff Alex Tourk confronted him after learning from his wife, Ruby Rippey-Tourk, that she and Newsom had an affair in 2005, when she was Newsom's appointments secretary. Tourk immediately resigned.

May 2012: Hosting "The Gavin Newsom Show" and Criticism of Sacramento

In May 2012, Newsom began hosting "The Gavin Newsom Show" on Current TV. In the same month, he received criticism for describing Sacramento as "dull."

February 24, 2017: Letter Urging Against Increased Enforcement of Cannabis Firms

On February 24, 2017, 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.

2018: Rippey-Tourk Comments on Newsom Affair and #MeToo Movement

In 2018, Ruby Rippey-Tourk commented on her affair with Gavin Newsom, stating that she didn't believe it should be associated with the #MeToo movement, as she was a consenting adult at the time.

March 13, 2019: Moratorium on California's death penalty

On March 13, 2019, Gavin Newsom declared a moratorium on the state's death penalty, preventing any execution while he remained governor and leading to the closure of the execution chamber at San Quentin State Prison.

June 2019: Newsom Apologizes for Genocide of Native Americans

In June 2019, Gavin Newsom apologized on behalf of the California state government for the genocide of Native Americans approved and abetted upon statehood in the 19th century. He acknowledged the killing of at least 4,500 Native Californians between 1849 and 1870, describing it as genocide that needs to be recognized in history books.

September 2019: Veto of SB 1

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

2019: Newsom calls for nationwide background checks on ammunition purchases

In 2019, in response to the mass shooting in Virginia Beach, Newsom called for nationwide background checks on people purchasing ammunition. Later that year, he responded to the Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting by expressing his support for the Second Amendment and advocating for national cooperation in controlling "weapons of goddamned mass destruction".

January 2020: False Claims on wildfire prevention projects

In January 2020, Gavin 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; the actual treated area was 11,399 acres (4,613 ha).

February 21, 2020: Introduction of Recall Petition

On February 21, 2020, a recall petition was introduced against Newsom by Orrin Heatlie, citing grievances such as the sanctuary state policy and high homelessness.

April 2020: Resumption of hydraulic fracturing permits

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

June 10, 2020: Approval of Recall Petition for Circulation

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

August 2020: Signature Verification for Recall Petition

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

September 2020: Bill on transgender inmates signed into law

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, which led to a lawsuit claiming the bill created an unsafe environment for women.

October 2020: Additional Signature Verification for Recall Petition

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

November 2020: The French Laundry Incident and Increased Recall Support

In November 2020, Gavin Newsom's attendance at a party at The French Laundry, despite public health measures, contributed to growing support for the recall effort.

November 17, 2020: Initial Deadline for Recall Petition Signatures

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

January 2021: Unemployment benefits mismanagement

In January 2021, the Los Angeles Times reported that Gavin Newsom's administration had mismanaged $11.4 billion by disbursing unemployment benefits to ineligible claimants, with another $19 billion in claims under investigation for fraud.

March 17, 2021: Extended Deadline for Recall Petition Signatures

The deadline for submitting signatures for the recall petition against Newsom was extended to March 17, 2021.

June 10, 2021: Newsom criticizes Judge Benitez after striking down assault weapon ban

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

June 23, 2021: Report on wildfire prevention projects

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.

2021: Ballmer's wife, Connie Ballmer donated $1 million to Newsom campaign

In 2021, Connie Ballmer, wife of former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, donated $1 million to the Newsom campaign. In September 2024, Newsom signed AB 3206 into law, which creates an exception to the state's alcohol law for Intuit Dome, owned by Steve Ballmer. This led to criticism of the bill for benefiting a major donor.

2021: Newsom sees no conflict in wife's nonprofit accepting donations from lobbying companies

In 2021, Governor Newsom stated that he did not perceive any conflict of interest in his wife's nonprofit, The Representation Project, accepting donations from corporations that lobby his administration.

2021: Decline of support for the death penalty

In 2021, a poll suggested declining support for the death penalty among California voters, although Gavin Newsom's moves to halt capital punishment were criticized as defiance of the will of voters.

January 13, 2022: Newsom denied parole to Sirhan Sirhan

On January 13, 2022, Gavin Newsom denied parole to Sirhan Sirhan, Robert F. Kennedy's assassin, after he had been recommended for parole.

January 2022: Dismantling of death row

In January 2022, Gavin Newsom directed the state to begin dismantling its death row in San Quentin and transform it into a "space for rehabilitation programs".

April 2022: Failed fire prevention program

In April 2022, CapRadio found 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.

September 2022: Newsom Makes California a Sanctuary State for Transgender Youth

In September 2022, Gavin Newsom made California the first sanctuary state for transgender youth and issued a fine of $1.5 million to a school district for rejecting a curriculum including a biography of Harvey Milk. He also vetoed bills related to judges considering a parent's affirmation of a child's gender identity in custody battles and mandated insurance coverage for gender-affirming care.

September 2022: Newsom proposes windfall profits tax on oil companies

In September 2022, Gavin Newsom proposed a windfall profits tax and penalty for oil companies, attributing high gas prices in California (exceeding $6 per gallon) to corporate greed and price gouging.

March 2023: Newsom cuts ties with Walgreens over abortion pill policy

In March 2023, after Walgreens announced it would refuse to dispense abortion pills where illegal, Newsom declared that California would cease doing business with Walgreens. He cited Walgreens giving in to "right-wing bullies" and indicated he wanted to cancel their $54 million contract with the state prison system. Walgreens also receives $1.5 billion for filling prescriptions for California's Medi-Cal program.

March 28, 2023: Newsom signs law authorizing California Energy Commission to penalize oil companies

On March 28, 2023, Gavin Newsom signed a law granting the California Energy Commission the authority to establish a profit threshold, above which oil companies would face financial penalties. The law also mandates that petroleum companies disclose additional profit data to state regulators and establishes a new oversight division within the California Energy Commission to investigate price gouging within the gasoline industry.

June 8, 2023: Newsom Proposes 28th Amendment to U.S. Constitution for Gun Control

On June 8, 2023, Newsom proposed a 28th amendment to the U.S. Constitution to raise the age to buy firearms to 21, institute universal background checks for gun purchases, mandate waiting periods, and ban assault weapons for civilians. The proposal was met with criticism due to the advocated method potentially allowing a complete rewrite of the Constitution.

October 2023: Newsom Vetoes Bill to Ban Caste Discrimination

In October 2023, Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill to ban discrimination based on caste, calling it "unnecessary". Hindu rights organizations supported the veto, while advocates for oppressed castes criticized it.

October 2023: Newsom Vetoes Bill to Provide Unemployment Insurance to Striking Workers

In October 2023, Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill to provide unemployment insurance to striking workers, citing the excess burden on the state's unemployment system. He also vetoed a bill to expand the mandatory warning period for layoffs and prohibit employers from making laid-off employees sign nondisclosure agreements in order to receive severance.

October 2023: Newsom vetoes bill to cap co-pays for diabetic insulin at $35

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

October 2023: Newsom Vetoes Bills Aimed at Expanding Access to Housing Assistance

In October 2023, Newsom vetoed several bills aimed at expanding access to housing assistance. One was a bill to repurpose unused state-owned land for affordable housing. Another would have expanded the number of people who qualify for state housing assistance. A third would have mandated that Medi-Cal cover the cost of housing assistance.

February 2024: Newsom pushed for exemption for businesses that bake and sell bread in AB 1228

In February 2024, it was reported that Newsom advocated for an exemption in AB 1228 (a bill raising the minimum wage for fast food workers) for businesses that bake and sell bread. The exemption benefited 24 Panera Bread bakery-cafes owned by Greg Flynn, who had donated to Newsom's campaigns. This led to calls for an investigation.

September 2024: Newsom signs bill providing alcohol law exception for Intuit Dome

In September 2024, Newsom signed AB 3206 into law, which creates an exception to the state's alcohol law for Intuit Dome, owned by former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. Ballmer's wife, Connie Ballmer, had donated to Newsom's campaign in 2021, leading to criticism of the bill for benefiting a major donor.

December 2024: Newsom Criticizes Biden for Pardoning 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: Newsom Signs Bill Prohibiting Parental Notification of Student Gender Identity

In 2024, Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law prohibiting schools from notifying parents about a minor student's gender identity without the student's consent. This law was criticized by conservative groups and parents who argued it undermined local school authority and parental rights, while proponents argued it protected students' privacy and safety.