Story perspectives

Newsom Confirms 2005-06 Affair Amid 2028 Presidential Bid

7/29/2026

Summary

Story summary

Ruby Rippey’s July 28, 2026 essay reveals her 2005-2006 affair with then-Mayor Gavin Newsom.
Newsom confirmed the liaison at a February 2007 press conference, stating “everything you’ve heard and read is true.”
Rippey told husband Alex Tourk, prompting his resignation and her May 2006 rehab entry.
She disputes Newsom’s memoir claim, says Attorney Kamala Harris urged silence, and notes the revelation arrives as he ends his gubernatorial year and eyes a 2028 presidential run.

History

Historical Context

In 1998, the release of Ken Starr’s 453-page report on President Bill Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky sparked a House impeachment inquiry, a Senate trial, and was viewed online by 20 million Americans. The 2026 disclosure that Ruby Rippey had an affair with then-Mayor Gavin Newsom, confirmed by Kamala Harris, revives that precedent, showing how personal misconduct can dominate national campaigns.

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Story summary

Ruby Rippey’s July 28, 2026 essay reveals her 2005-2006 affair with then-Mayor Gavin Newsom.
Newsom confirmed the liaison at a February 2007 press conference, stating “everything you’ve heard and read is true.”
Rippey told husband Alex Tourk, prompting his resignation and her May 2006 rehab entry.
She disputes Newsom’s memoir claim, says Attorney Kamala Harris urged silence, and notes the revelation arrives as he ends his gubernatorial year and eyes a 2028 presidential run.

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