Early Life and Education of Gavin Newsom: A Complete Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Gavin Newsom. A timeline of key moments.

Gavin Newsom is an American politician and businessman currently serving as the 40th Governor of California, a position he has held since 2019. As a member of the Democratic Party, his political career includes serving as the 49th Lieutenant Governor of California from 2011 to 2019, and prior to that, as the 42nd Mayor of San Francisco from 2004 to 2011. Newsom's career reflects a long-standing involvement in California politics and government.

Sections (5)

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

October 10, 1967: Gavin Newsom's Birth

On October 10, 1967, Gavin Christopher Newsom was born in San Francisco, California. He is currently the 40th governor of California.

Others born on this day/year

1971: Parents' Divorce

In 1971, Gavin Newsom's parents divorced when he was three years old, leaving his mother to raise him and his sister.

1978: Cost of executing 13 people was $5 billion

In 2012, Newsom cited statistics that California had spent $5 billion since 1978 to execute just 13 people.

1985: Graduation from Redwood High School

In 1985, Gavin Newsom graduated from Redwood High School in Larkspur, California, excelling athletically despite his academic struggles with dyslexia.

1985: Elbow Surgery Ends Baseball Aspirations

In late 1985, Gavin Newsom underwent elbow surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament, ending his varsity baseball aspirations at Santa Clara University.

1989: Graduated from Santa Clara University

In 1989, Gavin Newsom graduated from Santa Clara University with a Bachelor of Science in political science.

1999: District System Adopted for Board Elections

In 1999, San Francisco voters chose to abandon at-large elections to the Board of Supervisors for the previous district system.

2000: State law passed

In 2000, a state law was passed that would later be violated by Newsom in 2004 when he directed the San Francisco city–county clerk to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

December 2001: Marriage to Kimberly Guilfoyle

In December 2001, Gavin Newsom married legal commentator Kimberly Guilfoyle at Saint Ignatius Catholic Church.

July 1, 2004: Implementation of Care Not Cash initiative

On July 1, 2004, the Care Not Cash initiative, sponsored by Newsom, began implementation, aiming to provide permanent shelter for homeless individuals in San Francisco.

August 2004: California Supreme Court Annulled Same-Sex Marriage Licenses

In August 2004, the Supreme Court of California annulled the same-sex marriage licenses Newsom had authorized, as they conflicted with state law.

October 27, 2004: Newsom joins hotel workers strike

On October 27, 2004, Newsom joined UNITE HERE union members on a picket line in front of the Westin St. Francis Hotel during a strike by hotel workers in San Francisco.

2004: Separation from Kimberly Guilfoyle

In 2004, Gavin Newsom and Kimberly Guilfoyle separated.

January 2005: Joint Filing for Divorce

In January 2005, Gavin Newsom and Kimberly Guilfoyle jointly filed for divorce, citing career difficulties.

2005: Newsom pushes for state law on dog breeds

In 2005, Newsom advocated for a state law to allow California communities to create policies restricting certain breeds of dogs.

February 2006: Purchased Residence in Russian Hill

In February 2006, Gavin Newsom paid $2,350,000 for his residence in the Russian Hill neighborhood of San Francisco.

February 28, 2006: Divorce Finalization

On February 28, 2006, Gavin Newsom's divorce from Kimberly Guilfoyle was finalized.

September 2006: Brief Relationship with Brittanie Mountz

In September 2006, Gavin Newsom briefly dated 19-year-old Brittanie Mountz, a model and restaurant hostess.

September 2006: Hotel contract dispute settled

In September 2006, the contract dispute with the San Francisco hotels, which Newsom had vowed to boycott, was settled.

October 2006: Beginning Relationship with Jennifer Siebel

In October 2006, Gavin Newsom began dating film director Jennifer Siebel.

February 2007: Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder

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

December 2007: Engagement Announcement

In December 2007, Gavin Newsom and Jennifer Siebel announced their engagement.

2007: 2,000 homeless people placed into permanent housing.

By 2007, approximately 2,000 homeless individuals had been placed into permanent housing with support as part of Newsom's initiative to end chronic homelessness.

July 2008: Marriage to Jennifer Siebel

In July 2008, Gavin Newsom married Jennifer Siebel in Stevensville, Montana. They have four children.

2008: Newsom opposed Proposition 8

During the 2008 election, Newsom opposed Proposition 8, a ballot initiative aimed at reversing the Supreme Court of California's ruling on the constitutional right to same-sex marriage.

2008: Self-Description as "Irish Catholic Rebel"

In 2008, Gavin Newsom described himself as an "Irish Catholic rebel" with a strong faith and admiration for the Catholic Church, which he believed was in crisis. He expressed a strong connection to a greater purpose and a higher being as his reason for staying with the Church.

April 2009: Listed Russian Hill Residence for Sale

In April 2009, Gavin Newsom put his residence in the Russian Hill neighborhood on the market for $3,000,000.

2012: Voters Upheld Capital Punishment in 2012

In 2012, California's voters upheld capital punishment.

2012: Newsom Supported Measure to End Capital Punishment

In 2012, Newsom supported a failed measure that sought to end capital punishment in California.

2012: Move to Kentfield

In 2012, after completing his service as mayor of San Francisco in 2011, Gavin Newsom and his family moved to a house they bought in Kentfield in Marin County.

December 2015: Newsom calls for reclassification of computer science courses

In December 2015, Newsom urged the University of California to reclassify computer science courses as core academic classes.

September 2016: Legislation signed for expanding computer science education

In September 2016, legislation sponsored by Newsom was signed by Governor Brown, initiating the planning process for expanding computer science education to all state students, starting as early as kindergarten.

2016: Voters Upheld Capital Punishment in 2016

In 2016, California's voters upheld capital punishment and agreed to move the condemned to other prisons.

2016: Newsom passed reforms to support student-athletes

In 2016, Newsom introduced a series of reforms at the University of California, designed to provide student-athletes with increased academic and injury-related assistance.

2016: Newsom supported Proposition 62

In 2016, Newsom supported Proposition 62, which aimed to repeal the death penalty in California, arguing against racial disparities and the death penalty's immorality.

May 2019: Purchase of Fair Oaks Home

In May 2019, it was reported that Gavin Newsom's $3.7 million purchase of a 12,000-square-foot home in Fair Oaks was the most expensive private residence sold in the Sacramento region since the beginning of the year.

2019: CalMatters Analysis of Newsom's Political Positions

In 2019, a CalMatters analysis found that Gavin Newsom's political positions were more moderate than those of almost every Democratic state legislator in California.

2019: Speech about Studying Abroad

In a 2019 speech, Gavin Newsom described his junior year semester studying abroad in Rome, Italy as "eye-opening", exposing him to global perspectives that influenced his political career.

2019: Initial Listing of Marin County Home

In early 2019, Gavin Newsom originally listed the Marin County property for sale at $5.895 million, but it was removed from the market after a price reduction to $5.695 million.

2020: Compared Recall Effort to 2020 Presidential Election

In 2020, during the recall campaign, Newsom compared the recall effort to the attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election.

August 2021: Sale of Marin County Home

In August 2021, Gavin Newsom sold a Marin County home for $5.9 million in an off-market transaction.

2021: Poll Suggested Declining Support for Capital Punishment

In 2021, a poll by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies and co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times suggested declining support for capital punishment among California's voters.

October 2023: Week-Long Visit to China

In October 2023, Gavin Newsom embarked on a week-long visit to China, starting in Hong Kong and including stops in Beijing, Guangdong, Jiangsu and Shanghai. He met with President Xi Jinping to discuss issues such as climate change, trade relations, and the response to fentanyl production, advocating for better U.S.-China relations.

October 20, 2023: Visit to Israel

On October 20, 2023, Gavin Newsom visited Israel to show solidarity during the Gaza war. He met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, other top Israeli officials, and survivors of the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel.