Governor Gavin Newsom Confirmed Affair with Aide's Wife in 2007 Amid Public Scrutiny

Sacramento, CA – California Governor Gavin Newsom publicly confirmed an extramarital affair with Ruby Rippey-Tourk, the wife of his then-appointments secretary and campaign manager, Alex Tourk, in February 2007. The long-standing personal matter resurfaced recently, with a tweet from "Thomas Sowell Quotes" questioning, > "If you can't trust Gavin Newsom with his best friend's wife, how can you trust him with your state?"

The affair, which occurred in late 2005, came to light when Ruby Rippey-Tourk confessed to her husband during substance abuse therapy. Alex Tourk, a close friend and key aide to Newsom, resigned from his position after confronting the then-San Francisco Mayor about the relationship. Newsom, who was in the process of divorcing his first wife, Kimberly Guilfoyle, at the time of the affair, expressed deep remorse.

During a press conference on February 1, 2007, Newsom stated, "Everything that you heard and read is true and I am deeply sorry about that. I hurt someone I care deeply about, Alex Tourk and his friends and his family, and that is something I have to live with and something I am deeply sorry for." He described the affair as a "profound lapse in judgment" and pledged to focus on his public duties to atone for his actions.

The incident drew significant media attention and raised questions about Newsom's judgment, particularly as he was a rising figure in Democratic politics. In 2018, as Newsom campaigned for governor, Ruby Rippey Gibney (her married name at the time) publicly addressed the affair on Facebook, clarifying its consensual nature. She stated, "I can’t blame anyone for my part in this ugly episode," and noted that the experience led to her sustained sobriety.

An investigation by the San Francisco City Attorney's office later cleared Newsom of any legal wrongdoing concerning Ruby Rippey-Tourk's receipt of "catastrophic illness pay" after leaving her city position. While the affair remains a part of Newsom's public record, his political career has continued to advance, culminating in his election as Governor of California.