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 since 2019. A Democrat, he previously held the office 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 trajectory of political leadership within California, progressing from local to state-level governance.
October 10, 1967: Gavin Newsom's Birth
On October 10, 1967, Gavin Christopher Newsom was born. He is now a politician and businessman, currently serving as the 40th governor of California since 2019.
1971: Parents' Divorce
In 1971, when Gavin Newsom was three years old, his parents divorced, leaving his mother to raise him and his sister.
1985: Graduated from Redwood High School
In 1985, Gavin Newsom graduated from Redwood High School in Larkspur, California.
1985: Elbow Surgery
In late 1985, Gavin Newsom underwent elbow surgery, later revealed as a procedure to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament, ending his varsity baseball aspirations.
1989: Graduated from Santa Clara University
In 1989, Gavin Newsom graduated from Santa Clara University with a Bachelor of Science degree in political science.
1999: Voters chose district system
In 1999, San Francisco voters chose to abandon at-large elections to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for the previous district system.
December 2001: Newsom marries Kimberly Guilfoyle
In December 2001, Gavin Newsom married legal commentator Kimberly Guilfoyle at Saint Ignatius Catholic Church, marking a significant relationship milestone.
2004: Newsom and Guilfoyle separate
In 2004, Gavin Newsom and Kimberly Guilfoyle separated, indicating difficulties in their marriage due to their careers on opposite coasts.
January 2005: Newsom and Guilfoyle file for divorce
In January 2005, Gavin Newsom and Kimberly Guilfoyle jointly filed for divorce, citing "difficulties due to their careers on opposite coasts," marking a formal end to their marriage.
February 2006: Purchased residence in Russian Hill
In February 2006, Gavin Newsom paid $2,350,000 for his residence in the Russian Hill neighborhood.
February 28, 2006: Newsom and Guilfoyle divorce finalized
On February 28, 2006, Gavin Newsom's divorce from Kimberly Guilfoyle was finalized, ending their marriage. By this time, Guilfoyle was expecting a child with Eric Villency.
September 2006: Newsom briefly dates Brittanie Mountz
In September 2006, Gavin Newsom, then 38, briefly dated 19-year-old Brittanie Mountz, a model and restaurant hostess.
October 2006: Newsom begins dating Jennifer Siebel
In October 2006, Gavin Newsom began dating film director Jennifer Siebel, marking the beginning of their relationship.
February 2007: Newsom seeks treatment for alcohol use disorder
In February 2007, Gavin Newsom announced he would seek treatment for alcohol use disorder, acknowledging a personal struggle and seeking help.
December 2007: Newsom and Siebel announce engagement
In December 2007, Gavin Newsom and Jennifer Siebel announced their engagement, solidifying their commitment to each other.
July 2008: Newsom and Siebel marry in Montana
In July 2008, Gavin Newsom and Jennifer Siebel were married in Stevensville, Montana, celebrating their union. They now have four children.
2008: Newsom describes himself as an 'Irish Catholic rebel'
In 2008, Gavin Newsom described himself as an "Irish Catholic rebel" who still has tremendous admiration for the Church and a strong faith. He also acknowledged that the Catholic Church was in crisis.
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.
2010: Democratic gubernatorial nominee wins over 60% of the vote
In 2010, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee won over 60% of the vote.
2011: Guilfoyle gains prominence on Fox News
In 2011, Kimberly Guilfoyle gained prominence via a Fox News chat show, marking a significant milestone in her career and public profile.
2012: California voters uphold capital punishment
In 2012, California voters upheld capital punishment.
2012: Newsom Family Moves to Marin County
In 2012, after completing his service as mayor, Gavin Newsom and his family moved to a house they bought in Kentfield in Marin County.
2016: California voters agree to move condemned to other prisons
In 2016, California voters agreed to move the condemned to other prisons.
2018: Newsom wins gubernatorial election
In 2018, Gavin Newsom won the gubernatorial election.
2018: California law expedites pardon requests
In 2018, a California law mandated expedited review of pardon requests from people facing deportation by the state Board of Parole Hearings.
2018: Fire destroyed the town of Paradise
In 2018, a fire destroyed the town of Paradise, where at least eight evacuees burned to death in their vehicles.
March 13, 2019: Newsom declares moratorium on death penalty
On March 13, 2019, Gavin Newsom declared a moratorium on the death penalty in California, halting executions and closing the execution chamber at San Quentin State Prison.
May 2019: Newsom pardons formerly incarcerated people
In May 2019, Gavin Newsom pardoned seven formerly incarcerated people, including two Cambodian refugees facing deportation, in his first acts of clemency as governor.
May 2019: Newsom Purchases Expensive Home in Fair Oaks
In May 2019, it was reported that Gavin Newsom purchased a 12,000-square-foot home in Fair Oaks for $3.7 million, making it the most expensive private residence sold in the Sacramento region since the beginning of the year.
September 2019: Newsom vetoes SB 1
In September 2019, Gavin Newsom vetoed SB 1, which would have preserved environmental protections at the state level.
November 2019: Newsom pardons men to avoid deportation to Cambodia or Vietnam
In November 2019, Gavin Newsom pardoned three men to avoid being deported to Cambodia or Vietnam, all of whom had committed crimes at age 19.
December 2019: Newsom grants parole to Cambodian refugee
In December 2019, Gavin Newsom granted parole to a Cambodian refugee who had been held in a California prison due to a murder case, but he was turned over to federal agents for possible deportation.
2019: Newsom attends UN Climate Action Summit
In 2019, Gavin Newsom attended the UN Climate Action Summit, highlighting California's role as a climate leader.
2019: CalMatters analysis finds Newsom moderate
In 2019, a CalMatters analysis determined that Gavin Newsom's political positions were more moderate than almost every Democratic state legislator in California.
2019: Spoke about Studying Abroad
In a 2019 speech, Gavin Newsom called his semester studying abroad in Rome, Italy, during his junior year "eye-opening," as it exposed him to global perspectives that influenced his political career.
2019: Newsom Lists and Removes Marin County Home from Market
In early 2019, Newsom initially listed the Marin County property for sale at $5.895 million, but later removed it from the market after reducing the price to $5.695 million.
January 2020: Newsom and Cal Fire falsely claimed success in wildfire prevention
In January 2020, Gavin 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.
February 2020: Newsom administration sues federal agencies
In February 2020, the Gavin Newsom administration sued federal agencies over the rollbacks to protect imperiled fish in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta in 2019.
March 4, 2020: Newsom declares state of emergency due to COVID-19
On March 4, 2020, Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in California after the first COVID-19 death, aiming to prepare for and contain the virus's spread, allowing for easier procurement of resources and prioritization of mitigating policies for the homeless population.
March 22, 2020: Newsom declares state of emergency for wildfire season
On March 22, 2020, Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency due to a mass die-off of trees throughout California, increasing the risk of wildfires in preparation for the 2020 wildfire season.
August 2020: Newsom addresses Democratic National Convention
In August 2020, Gavin Newsom addressed the 2020 Democratic National Convention, mentioning climate change and California wildfires.
September 2020: Newsom signs bill on transgender inmates' housing
In September 2020, Gavin Newsom signed a bill allowing California transgender inmates to be placed in prisons corresponding with their gender identity, with possible denials based on security concerns.
September 2020: Newsom approval rating was 64%
In September 2020, Gavin Newsom's approval rating was 64%.
September 23, 2020: Newsom signs executive order to phase out gasoline vehicles
On September 23, 2020, Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to phase out sales of gasoline-powered vehicles, requiring all new passenger vehicles sold in the state to be zero-emission by 2035.
2020: Newsom makes key appointments
In 2020, after Kamala Harris became Vice President, Gavin Newsom appointed Alex Padilla as U.S. Senator, Shirley Weber as Secretary of State, and later Rob Bonta as Attorney General.
2020: Newsom administration enacted stringent pandemic restrictions
In 2020, the Newsom administration enacted some of the country's most stringent pandemic restrictions.
January 2021: California had one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country
By January 2021, California had one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country, using about 30% of its available vaccines.
January 2021: Newsom's administration mismanaged unemployment benefits
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, and another $19 billion in claims remained under investigation for fraud.
February 2021: Julie Su appointed as deputy secretary of labor
In February 2021, Julie Su, Newsom appointee and California Labor Secretary, was appointed as deputy secretary of labor by President Joe Biden.
February 2021: Newsom approval rating declines
In February 2021, a poll found that Gavin Newsom's approval rate was down to 46%, with 48% disapproval, the highest of his tenure, due to public opinion of his management of the pandemic.
May 2021: California had 29th-highest death rate despite stringent restrictions
By May 2021, despite stringent pandemic restrictions in 2020, California had the 29th-highest death rate among all 50 states.
June 23, 2021: Report reveals Newsom and Cal Fire overstated wildfire prevention efforts
On June 23, 2021, CapRadio reported that Gavin Newsom and Cal Fire falsely claimed in January 2020 that 90,000 acres of land at risk for wildfires had been treated, when the actual treated area was only 11,399 acres.
August 2021: Newsom Sells Marin County Home
In August 2021, Newsom sold the Marin County home for $5.9 million in an off-market transaction.
September 2021: California vaccination rate increases
By September 2021, over half the California population was fully vaccinated, ranking #16 out of the 50 states.
September 2021: Newsom signs police reform legislation
In September 2021, Gavin Newsom signed legislation raising the minimum age to become a police officer to 21, restricting tear gas use, banning employment of officers with misconduct records, and requiring officers to intervene against excessive force.
2021: California owed $23 billion for unemployment benefits
By the summer of 2021, California owed $23 billion to the federal government for unemployment benefits paid out during the pandemic, which was 43% of all unemployment debt owed by 13 states at the time.
2021: Poll suggests declining support for capital punishment
In 2021, a poll suggested declining support for capital punishment among California voters.
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, despite a parole board recommendation, citing Sirhan's lack of insight into his crime.
January 2022: Newsom directs dismantling of death row
In January 2022, Gavin Newsom directed California to begin dismantling its death row at San Quentin, planning to transform it into a "space for rehabilitation programs".
April 2022: Report finds fire prevention program failed
In April 2022, a report 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 says he won't run for President in 2024
In September 2022, Gavin Newsom stated that he would not run for president in 2024, citing his "vulnerable" 2021 recall election.
2022: Newsom elected to second term
In 2022, Gavin Newsom was elected to a second term as governor, defeating Republican state senator Brian Dahle with 59.2% of the vote. This margin was smaller than his 2018 victory.
April 2023: Article discusses the inevitability of Newsom presidential run
In April 2023, an article published in The Hill by journalist Sharon Udasin discussed the inevitability of a Gavin Newsom presidential run, highlighting speculation about his future political ambitions.
April 25, 2023: Newsom endorses Biden's reelection campaign
On April 25, 2023, Gavin Newsom endorsed President Biden's reelection campaign, signaling his support for the incumbent and dampening speculation about his own presidential ambitions for 2024.
May 2023: Schwarzenegger predicts Newsom will run for president
In May 2023, Arnold Schwarzenegger stated that it was a "no-brainer" that Gavin Newsom would someday run for president, adding fuel to the ongoing speculation about his future political aspirations.
June 2023: Poll shows voter interest in Newsom 2024 run
According to a June 2023 poll by NewsNation, 22% of California voters wanted Gavin Newsom to enter the 2024 presidential election, reflecting a level of support for a potential Newsom candidacy.
September 2023: Newsom appoints Laphonza Butler to Senate seat
In September 2023, Gavin Newsom appointed Laphonza Butler to the U.S. Senate seat after Dianne Feinstein's death, fulfilling his promise to appoint a Black woman to the position.
2023: Newsom launches Campaign for Democracy PAC
In 2023, Gavin Newsom launched Campaign for Democracy, a PAC to take on "authoritarian leaders" in the U.S. It is seen as a starting point for a possible 2028 presidential bid.
July 2024: Campaign for Democracy raises $24 million
As of July 2024, Gavin Newsom's Campaign for Democracy has raised $24 million for direct contributions to candidates and other spending. The group can coordinate with Newsom as long as he is not a candidate for federal office.
July 2024: Newsom launches Politickin' podcast and endorses Harris for president
In July 2024, Gavin Newsom launched a podcast, Politickin', and after Biden's sudden withdrawal from the presidential race, endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president, solidifying his support within the Democratic party.
2024: Newsom pledges to appoint a Black woman to replace Dianne Feinstein
In 2024, Gavin Newsom pledged to appoint a Black woman to replace Dianne Feinstein if she were to retire or die before her term ended.
June 2025: Newsom sues Trump over troop deployment
In June 2025, following federal immigration raids and protests in Los Angeles, Gavin Newsom, as the State of California, filed a federal lawsuit, Newsom v. Trump, challenging the legality of President Trump's deployment of troops to California.
2028: Potential presidential bid in 2028
Gavin Newsom's launch of Campaign for Democracy in 2023 is thought to be a starting point for a possible 2028 presidential bid.
2028: Newsom adjusts approach for potential 2028 presidential campaign
In anticipation of a potential 2028 presidential campaign, Gavin Newsom has adjusted his political approach to appeal to a broader electorate, including engaging with conservative voices like Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon.
2035: All new passenger vehicles sold in California must be zero-emission
In 2035, all new passenger vehicles sold in California must be zero-emission.
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