Gavin Newsom’s 2005 affair detailed in new Vanity Fair essay
Ruby Rippey, a former appointments secretary for Gavin Newsom when he was mayor of San Francisco, published a first‑person essay in Vanity Fair on July 28, 2026. The piece recounts her 2005‑2006 affair with Newsom, which occurred while she was married to his deputy chief of staff and campaign manager Alex Tourk. Rippey describes the relationship as driven by “intoxication” and power imbalance, noting episodes in a Napa Valley wedding, a hotel in Los Angeles, and Newsom’s penthouse. She also details her struggles with alcoholism and cocaine use, her eventual entry into rehab, and the public fallout after the scandal broke in early 2007.
Newsom’s office confirmed that the governor “acknowledged his role and publicly apologized” for the affair nearly two decades ago and added that he has “nothing further to add.” The timing of the essay coincides with Newsom finishing his final year as California governor and being seen as a potential Democratic presidential candidate in 2028. The narrative also references former District Attorney Kamala Harris advising Rippey to keep quiet, and former partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s comments at the time of the scandal.
The essay renews public focus on the personal scandal, its impact on Newsom’s political image, and broader discussions about power dynamics in politics.
Entities: Alex Tourk · Gavin Newsom · Jennifer Siebel Newsom · Kamala Harris · Ruby Rippey · Vanity Fair
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] At the time of the affair, Ruby Rippey was married to Alex Tourk, a deputy chief of staff for Gavin Newsom. (All three articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Newsom’s office declined to comment further on the 2026 essay. (All three articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Gavin Newsom publicly acknowledged and apologized for the affair in February 2007. (All three articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The affair between Ruby Rippey and Gavin Newsom began in July 2005 at a wedding in Napa Valley. (All three articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Ruby Rippey published a Vanity Fair essay titled “How I Blew Up – Then Rebuilt My Life” on July 28, 2026. (All three articles)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Former Vice President Kamala Harris contacted Ruby Rippey in 2007 about the scandal. (First two articles mention Harris; third alludes)