Ruby Rippey Opens Up About Affair with Gavin Newsom
Nearly 20 years after a scandal rocked San Francisco’s political scene, Ruby Rippey, who was formerly an appointments secretary, is speaking out. She details her extramarital affair with Gavin Newsom, California’s current governor, in a candid essay for Vanity Fair.
As Newsom considers a run for president in 2028, Rippey reflects on their relationship that began in July 2005. At that time, Newsom was the mayor of San Francisco and was going through a separation from Kimberly Guilfoyle, who is now the U.S. Ambassador to Greece.
Rippey, now 54, describes a turbulent period in her life, marked by struggles with addiction. The affair started after a colleague’s wedding and was, she suggests, more about the allure of power than romance.
“Hey — you look really good,” Rippey recalls Newsom saying. “You’ve lost all your pregnancy weight.”
She narrates a moment in a narrow hallway, where their eyes met, and the atmosphere shifted. This moment, she reflects, captured the tension of their relationship.
After entering rehab in 2006, Rippey chose to end the affair by writing to Newsom from treatment, and she has been sober for 20 years since. She aims to reclaim her narrative, particularly in contrast to Newsom’s recent portrayal of their affair as a “stupid” and “brief” incident in his memoir, “Young Man in a Hurry.”
Rippey disputes Newsom’s characterization, stating that she was the one who ultimately confessed to her husband about the affair. She argues that his framing discounts her personal agency and the reality of her experience.
The essay also touches on Rippey’s conversations with prominent political figures, including then-District Attorney Kamala Harris. Harris advised her to stay silent during the media frenzy, a piece of guidance Rippey now regards as invaluable.
“I wouldn’t say anything right now, Ruby. Just pause. More time will give you better perspective,” Rippey recalls Harris saying.
Rippey remembers how she faced public criticism from Newsom’s then-girlfriend, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, who initially blamed her for the affair. Jennifer publicly described Rippey as “the culprit” before later apologizing due to backlash from feminist groups.
While Rippey acknowledges the power disparity between her and Newsom, she hesitates to view herself strictly as a victim or a villain. She emphasizes personal accountability but also notes that the fallout from political scandals is seldom shared equally among those involved.
