Full Breakdown
Ruby Rippey’s Vanity Fair Essay Revives 20-Year-Old Gavin Newsom Scandal
7/29/2026, 2:05:35 PM
Core Event
The piece offers the most detailed account yet of her months-long affair with Newsom in the summer of 2005, her concurrent struggles with alcohol and cocaine, and the subsequent fallout that included her husband Alex Tourk’s resignation and her own entry into rehab in May 2006.
Background & Context
At the time of the affair, Newsom was a single, newly divorced mayor of San Francisco, while Rippey was married to Alex Tourk, a close friend of Newsom who served as deputy chief of staff and later as the mayor’s re-election campaign manager. The relationship became public in 2007, prompting intense media coverage and a brief dip in Newsom’s political fortunes. He later won re-election that year with more than 73 % of the vote and has served two terms as California governor. The essay appears as Newsom finishes his final gubernatorial year and is widely expected to launch a presidential bid in 2028.
Timeline
- Summer 2005 – Rippey and Newsom begin a sexual relationship after a wedding at a Napa Valley estate.
- May 2006 – Rippey enters rehab for alcohol addiction; the affair ends.
- 2007 – Newsom publicly acknowledges the affair at a City Hall press conference; Tourk resigns from the campaign.
- 2017 – The #MeToo movement prompts Rippey to reassess the power dynamics of the affair.
- July 2026 – *Vanity Fair* publishes Rippey’s essay; Newsom’s office issues a statement reiterating his past apology.
Official Statements & Responses
Former San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris, who advised Rippey at the time, told her to “pause” and wait for “better perspective,” a counsel Rippey later described as “the best advice I receive.”
Criticism & Opposition
First partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, who began dating Newsom shortly after the affair became public, called Rippey the “culprit” in 2007. The comment was later retracted, and Siebel Newsom’s office declined to comment on the new essay.
Why It Matters
The resurfacing of the affair occurs as Newsom prepares for a potential 2028 presidential campaign. Political analysts note that while the scandal is “old news,” its revival could influence voter perceptions, especially given the heightened scrutiny of personal conduct in the post-#MeToo era. —adds a contemporary lens to a story that previously centered on personal indiscretion.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Both things are true: I am responsible for what I did. Power does not distribute consequences evenly,” — Ruby Rippey
- “That detail—subtle but significant—is the one that stays with me,” — Ruby Rippey
- “The next clear memory is getting into the back of my boss’s chauffeured town car, heading to The Carneros Inn,” — Ruby Rippey
- “He addressed this chapter of his life, including in his memoir, and out of respect for everyone involved, does not have anything further to add.” — Ruby Rippey
What’s Next
Newsom’s campaign has not announced a formal response to the essay, and no new legal actions have been indicated. Observers expect the governor’s team to continue the “no further comment” stance while campaign strategists assess whether the renewed attention will affect fundraising or voter outreach ahead of the 2028 primary calendar.
