California Governor Gavin Newsom is once again facing renewed scrutiny over a major scandal from his past as speculation grows about a possible 2028 presidential run. In 2007, while serving as mayor of San Francisco, Newsom admitted to having an affair with Ruby Rippey Gibney, the wife of his close friend and campaign manager Alex Tourk. The revelation shocked the city’s political establishment, damaged key personal and professional relationships, and nearly derailed his career. Newsom publicly apologized, saying he had deeply hurt Tourk, his family, and the people of San Francisco. Tourk resigned immediately, and the scandal quickly turned into national fodder for late‑night jokes and criticism of Newsom’s judgment.
Although Newsom survived the fallout and eventually rose to become governor of California, the episode has remained a stain on his record. In the post‑#MeToo era, some observers have questioned whether the relationship—given that Gibney worked under him—would now be considered a form of workplace misconduct. Gibney later defended Newsom, acknowledging she was a subordinate but insisting the relationship was consensual and that the scandal should not be viewed through the lens of coercion. Still, the controversy resurfaces whenever Newsom’s national profile grows.
Those concerns intensified last week after Newsom made inflammatory remarks on “The Siren” podcast, appearing to endorse violence against Trump supporters while reacting to Texas Republicans’ redistricting efforts. Calling the move “radical rigging,” he vowed to fight back by redrawing congressional lines in California and declared, “We’re going to punch these sons of b****es in the mouth.” The comments added new fuel to the long‑running debate over Newsom’s temperament, judgment, and readiness for a national campaign.