Gavin Newsom Bio
Gavin Christopher Newsom is an American politician and businessman serving since 2019 as the 40th governor of California. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 42nd mayor of San Francisco from 2004 to 2011 and as the 49th lieutenant governor of California from 2011 to 2019. Beyond politics, Newsom is a well-known entrepreneur who founded the PlumpJack hospitality and winery group.
As governor, Newsom has focused on housing, climate policy, public health, criminal justice reform, and LGBTQ rights. His tenure has included both national attention for his progressive policy decisions and public scrutiny over his pandemic management and several ethics issues.
Early Life and Background
Gavin Christopher Newsom was born on October 10, 1967, in San Francisco, California. He is the son of William Alfred Newsom III and Tessa Thomas (née Menzies). Raised in San Francisco, Newsom grew up immersed in the cultural and political life of the city, an environment that helped shape his early interest in civic affairs.
Newsom attended Redwood High School before going on to Santa Clara University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in political science in 1989. His time at Santa Clara, a Jesuit institution, helped deepen his engagement with public policy and community organizing.
Path to US Politics
After college, Newsom founded the PlumpJack Winery in 1992 with financial backing from family friend and billionaire heir Gordon Getty. The business expanded into a hospitality group managing more than 700 employees across restaurants, hotels, and retail stores. During this period, Newsom gained firsthand experience dealing with city regulations, an experience that motivated him to enter public service.
In 1996, San Francisco mayor Willie Brown appointed Newsom to the city’s Parking and Traffic Commission. Brown then appointed him to fill a vacancy on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors the following year. Newsom won his first election to the board in 1998, marking the start of his formal career in US politics.
Gavin Newsom Career
Early Career (1996-2003)
Newsom began his political career on San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors, where he developed a reputation as a business-friendly centrist Democrat. He sponsored several initiatives, including Care Not Cash, a program designed to move homeless individuals from street living into permanent supportive housing.
In 2003, Newsom placed first in a nine-person field in the San Francisco mayoral race, ultimately winning the December runoff against Green Party candidate Matt Gonzalez with 53 percent of the vote. He was sworn in as mayor on January 8, 2004.
San Francisco Mayoralty Breakthrough (2004-2011)
As mayor of San Francisco, Newsom gained national attention in 2004 when he directed the city-county clerk to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, an act that violated a state law at the time. The decision made him a leading voice for marriage equality years before it became national policy.
Newsom also championed the Care Not Cash initiative, expanded Project Homeless Connect, and signed legislation creating Healthy San Francisco in 2007, making the city the first in the nation to provide universal health care access. In 2007, he was reelected with more than 72 percent of the vote, reinforcing his political strength in the city.
Lieutenant Governor Era (2011-2019)
Newsom was elected lieutenant governor of California in 2010 and reelected in 2014. During this period, he hosted The Gavin Newsom Show on Current TV from 2012 to 2013 and wrote the book Citizenville, which focused on using digital tools to strengthen democratic participation.
As lieutenant governor, Newsom positioned himself as a leading progressive voice in state government, advocating for education reform, gun control, and same-sex marriage. In 2016, he served as the official proponent of Proposition 63, a ballot measure that strengthened California’s ammunition purchase regulations.
California Governorship (2019-Present)
Newsom was elected governor of California in 2018, defeating Republican John H. Cox in a landslide, and was reelected in 2022, defeating Republican state senator Brian Dahle with 59.2 percent of the vote. As governor, his priorities have included expanding Medi-Cal eligibility, signing gun control legislation, advancing LGBTQ rights, and addressing homelessness and the cost of housing.
His administration faced a major test during the COVID-19 pandemic, which included an unsuccessful recall effort in 2021. In 2025, he began hosting the podcast This Is Gavin Newsom and oversaw the passage of California Proposition 50, a state constitutional amendment on congressional redistricting.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of Newsom’s most defining moments came in 2004, when his decision to issue same-sex marriage licenses placed him at the center of the national debate on marriage equality. As governor, he signed landmark legislation on gun control, transgender rights, and universal health care access, while also navigating a successful 2021 recall election and a 2022 reelection campaign.
Gavin Newsom Career Wins
Throughout his career, Gavin Newsom has won several major elections, beginning with his first race for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1998. His electoral track record reflects steady support from California voters, particularly in statewide races.
US Politics Highlights
Newsom’s first major electoral win came in 2003, when he was elected mayor of San Francisco. He was reelected in 2007 with more than 72 percent of the vote, a commanding margin that underscored his popularity in the city.
He went on to win election as lieutenant governor in 2010 and again in 2014, before claiming the governorship in 2018 and winning a second term in 2022. In addition to political victories, Newsom built a successful business career, growing PlumpJack into a multi-company enterprise.
Other Wins & Achievements
Beyond elections, Newsom earned national recognition for his policy work. He received the Leadership for Healthy Communities Award alongside New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg for his commitment to expanding access to healthy food and physical activity. In 2010, he was named “America’s Most Social Mayor” by Same Point for his effective use of social media.
Gavin Newsom Family
Family Background and Political Lineage
Gavin Christopher Newsom is the son of William Alfred Newsom III and Tessa Thomas (née Menzies). His family ties to business and public life in California helped shape his early interest in politics and entrepreneurship, including his long-standing personal and professional relationship with investor Gordon Getty.
Personal Life
Newsom was married to television personality Kimberly Guilfoyle from 2001 until their divorce in 2006. In 2008, he married documentary filmmaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom, with whom he has built a family life that has included homes in Kentfield and Fair Oaks, California. Newsom was at his mother’s side in May 2002 when she died by physician-assisted suicide, an experience he has cited as shaping his later support for end-of-life choice laws. Raised in his father’s Catholic faith, Newsom identifies as a practicing Catholic and has personal ties to the Jewish community through extended family. In February 2026, he released a memoir, Young Man in a Hurry, focused on his family and early life.