Gavin Newsom

Gavin Christopher Newsom, an American politician and businessman, was born on October 10, 1967. He is currently serving as the 40th governor of California.

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

Gavin Newsom and his investors established the company PlumpJack Associates L.P. on May 14, 1991.

The group led by Gavin Newsom started the PlumpJack Winery in 1992 with financial assistance from Gordon Getty.

PlumpJack Cafe Partners L.P. launched the PlumpJack Café on Fillmore Street in 1993.

Newsom and his investors established the PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn with a PlumpJack Café in 1994.

In 1995, Gavin Newsom and his investors opened a winery in Napa Valley.

Gavin Newsom participated in the San Francisco Board of Supervisors election in December 1996.

In 1997, Gavin Newsom was appointed by Willie Brown to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming the youngest member at the time.

In 1998, Gavin Newsom was elected to a full four-year term on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, representing the second district.

In 2001, Gavin Newsom married Kimberly Guilfoyle, a lawyer who later became a TV personality. They were compared to the Kennedys in a 2004 feature in Harper's Bazaar magazine, but divorced the following year.

On November 4, 2003, Gavin Newsom placed first in the general election for Mayor of San Francisco, receiving 41.9% of the vote.

On December 9, 2003, Gavin Newsom won the runoff election for Mayor of San Francisco with 53% of the vote, defeating Matt Gonzalez.

Gavin Newsom's initiative, Care Not Cash, began implementation on July 1, 2004. The initiative aimed to provide permanent shelter to homeless people in San Francisco, placing thousands into housing.

In 2005, Gavin Newsom advocated for a state law allowing California communities to create policies restricting certain breeds of dogs. This initiative aimed to address public safety concerns related to dog breeds.

In February 2006, Gavin Newsom bought a residence in the Russian Hill neighborhood for $2,350,000.

In September 2006, Gavin Newsom, then 38, briefly dated 19-year-old Brittanie Mountz, a model and restaurant hostess.

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

On January 31, 2007, Gavin Newsom's close friend, campaign manager, and former chief of staff Alex Tourk confronted Newsom after learning about his affair with Ruby Rippey-Tourk in 2005.

San Francisco's progressive community considered fielding a candidate against Gavin Newsom for his second term. Newsom was challenged by 13 candidates, including George Davis and Michael Powers. Newsom raised $1.6 million for his reelection campaign and was reelected with over 72 percent of the vote.

In July 2008, Gavin Newsom and Jennifer Siebel were married in Stevensville, Montana.

Gavin Newsom was elected as the Lieutenant Governor of California on November 2, 2010.

Gavin Newsom was sworn in as the Lieutenant Governor of California on January 10, 2011. He served under Governor Jerry Brown and began his tenure in this new role.

In 2012, Gavin Newsom and his family moved from San Francisco to a house they purchased in Kentfield, Marin County.

In 2013, Gavin Newsom co-authored the book 'Citizenville: How to Take the Town Square Digital and Reinvent Government' with Lisa Dickey.

Newsom was reelected as lieutenant governor on November 4, 2014, defeating Republican Ron Nehring with 57.2 percent of the vote. His second term began on January 5, 2015.

As lieutenant governor in 2016, Newsom was the official proponent of Proposition 63, a ballot measure that imposed gun control regulations in California, including background checks and authorization for purchasing ammunition.

Gavin Newsom won the Governor of California election on November 6, 2018, and currently holds the position.

In 2019, Gavin Newsom took over as co-chair of the United States Climate Alliance after Jerry Brown. The alliance focuses on climate issues and policies at the state level.

In February 2019, Governor Newsom announced the indefinite postponement of the California High-Speed Rail project, except for the Central Valley segment, due to cost overruns and delays. This decision led to tensions with the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California.

In May 2019, The Sacramento Bee 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.

In June 2019, Governor Newsom apologized for the genocide of Native Americans approved by the California state government in the 19th century. He acknowledged the atrocities committed and emphasized the need for historical accuracy in describing these events.

In September 2019, Gavin Newsom vetoed SB 1, which aimed to maintain environmental safeguards at the state level that were under threat of rollback by the Trump administration.

In November 2019, Gavin Newsom implemented a temporary ban on approving new hydraulic fracturing and steam-injected oil drilling projects in California, pending scientific review of their environmental impact.

On February 21, 2020, a recall petition was introduced by Orrin Heatlie, mentioning Newsom's sanctuary state policy and other grievances.

Governor Newsom declared a state of emergency in California after the first death in the state due to COVID-19. The declaration aimed to help the state prepare for and contain the spread of the virus.

On March 11, 2020, Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in California and imposed strict restrictions, including a stay-at-home order, becoming the first governor to do so in response to the growing COVID-19 pandemic.

Newsom urged isolation for individuals 65 and older and those with chronic health conditions. He also called for the closure of bars, brewery and winery tasting rooms, movie theaters, and health clubs.

Governor Newsom issued a mandatory stay-at-home order in California, allowing movement for necessities or recreation while maintaining a safe distance. Essential services like grocery stores and pharmacies remained open.

Governor Newsom declared a state of emergency in March 2020 due to increased wildfire risk from tree die-offs. The state faced multiple wildfires in 2020, with assistance initially rejected by the Trump administration.

Newsom, along with governors of Oregon and Washington, announced a shared approach for reopening economies. The plan included key indicators for altering the stay-at-home mandate based on data and not dates.

Governor Newsom made face coverings mandatory for all Californians to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Enforcement was left to business owners.

Newsom ordered the reinstatement of the shutdown of bars and indoor dining in restaurants due to an increase in the spread of the virus. He emphasized the importance of recognizing the ongoing threat of COVID-19.

On September 23, 2020, Gavin Newsom issued an executive order to eliminate the sale of gasoline-powered cars in California by 2035, promoting the shift towards zero-emission vehicles.

On June 10, 2021, Newsom criticized federal Judge Roger Benitez for striking down California's ban on assault weapons, accusing him of being biased towards the gun lobby.

On March 28, 2023, Gavin Newsom approved a law empowering the California Energy Commission to regulate profits of petroleum companies, enhance transparency, and combat price gouging in the gasoline sector.

On June 8, 2023, Newsom proposed the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, aiming to raise the age to buy firearms, implement universal background checks, mandate waiting periods, and ban assault weapons for civilians.

In October 2023, Gavin Newsom visited Israel to show support during the Israel-Hamas conflict. He met with top Israeli officials and survivors of a Hamas-led attack on Israel.

On November 30, 2023, Gavin Newsom and Ron DeSantis debated on Fox News Network, with Sean Hannity as the moderator. The debate was centered around their differing policies and approaches.

On March 27, 2024, during a scathing border speech, former President Trump gave Gavin Newsom a new nickname. This event highlighted the political tensions between the two figures.

On March 30, 2024, Gavin Newsom assumed office as the Governor of California. He previously served as the mayor of San Francisco and has been an influential figure in California politics.