Ruby Rippey, a former aide to Gavin Newsom, has detailed her 2005 affair with the then-mayor of San Francisco in a first-person essay published by Vanity Fair. The relationship, which occurred while Rippey was married to Newsom’s campaign manager, Alex Tourk, became public in 2007 and led to Tourk’s resignation. Newsom, who was newly divorced at the time, publicly apologized for the affair and acknowledged his role in the scandal.
Rippey, now 54, describes the affair as a period of personal turmoil marked by alcohol and substance abuse. She writes that the relationship began after a wedding in Napa Valley and continued intermittently until she entered rehab in May 2006. The affair took place at various locations, including Newsom’s penthouse in San Francisco and a private back room in a North Beach bar.
In her essay, Rippey reflects on the consequences of the affair, including the breakdown of her marriage and her subsequent journey to sobriety. She takes responsibility for her actions but frames the relationship as one driven by addiction rather than love. Newsom’s spokesperson confirmed that the essay aligns with previous accounts of the affair and stated that the governor has moved on from the incident, focusing on his family and political career.
The revelation comes as Newsom, now California’s governor, is considering a potential 2028 presidential run. The scandal, which dominated California political news in 2007, raised questions about workplace power dynamics and the personal conduct of public officials. Despite the controversy, Newsom was reelected as mayor later that year and has since risen to higher political office.