As speculation grows around California Governor Gavin Newsom’s potential 2028 presidential bid, an old scandal from his time as San Francisco mayor in 2007 is once again drawing attention. Newsom publicly admitted to having an affair with Ruby Rippey Gibney, the wife of his friend and campaign manager, Alex Tourk. The revelation shook the local political scene and threatened to derail his early political career.
Newsom delivered a televised apology acknowledging the affair, expressing remorse for betraying Tourk and his family. He emphasized his commitment to regaining the trust of San Francisco residents and promised to continue focusing on governing responsibly. However, the apology did little to stop the political fallout.
Tourk resigned from his role as Newsom’s chief of staff, and the scandal quickly became national news. Critics seized the opportunity to question Newsom’s integrity, and the controversy became a recurring point of attack throughout his political rise. Despite the negative press, Newsom managed to rehabilitate his public image and ascend to the governorship of California.
As the #MeToo movement redefined public conversations around power dynamics and workplace relationships, some began to reevaluate the Newsom-Gibney affair. Since Gibney worked under Newsom, questions arose about whether the relationship constituted workplace misconduct. Still, Gibney later defended Newsom, stating that while she was a subordinate, she made her own choices and did not view the affair as coercive.
The scandal has never fully disappeared and often resurfaces whenever Newsom’s national visibility increases. While he remains a powerful political figure with strong communication and fundraising skills, the controversy continues to shadow his ambitions for higher office.
More recently, Newsom made headlines again after launching into an aggressive rant on a podcast, criticizing Texas Republicans and appearing to endorse physical retaliation. His fiery tone highlighted his deep frustration with GOP redistricting strategies, further fueling controversy as 2028 speculation mounts.
