Former Mistress Breaks Silence on Gavin Newsom Affair as 2028 Speculation Intensifies
In a revelation that could complicate California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s ambitions for higher office, his former mistress has broken her silence on their extramarital relationship. Ruby Rippey, who once worked as an aide to Newsom, is detailing a months-long liaison that began while she was married to his closest confidant.
Rippey describes a relationship marked by heavy drinking and private meetings during Newsom’s time as mayor of San Francisco. The timing is notable for the Democratic governor, who has been widely discussed as a potential 2028 presidential contender after years of positioning himself as a progressive leader.
According to Rippey, then-San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris personally contacted her after the affair became public in 2007 and urged her to remain quiet. Rippey said Harris called while she was considering writing a memoir and advised: “I wouldn’t say anything right now, Ruby. Just pause. More time will give you better perspective.” Rippey followed that counsel for nearly two decades.
She is now sharing her account of the relationship, which she says involved power imbalances, personal betrayal, and efforts at damage control within Democratic circles. The affair began in the summer of 2005. Rippey served as an aide in Newsom’s office while her then-husband worked as the mayor’s chief of staff and close friend. Earlier that year, Newsom and his first wife, Kimberly Guilfoyle, had announced their divorce.
Rippey has recounted a pattern of alcohol-fueled encounters that ultimately contributed to the end of her marriage and led her to seek treatment. She has described private meetings at various locations and said she sometimes arranged to cross paths with Newsom. The relationship continued for months before she entered rehab and her marriage collapsed.
In his own memoir, Newsom characterized the episode as “the briefest of affairs.” Rippey has accepted responsibility for her own choices amid struggles with alcohol, while also noting that the person in a position of power carries greater accountability. “The one who holds power has the responsibility to hold the line… that didn’t happen,” she has said.
Newsom publicly acknowledged the affair in 2007, stating that reports about it were true and that he sought treatment for alcohol issues. He went on to win reelection and advance through California politics.
Rippey remained largely silent until now, choosing this moment—as Newsom’s governorship nears its end and presidential speculation grows—to provide a fuller account. As the 2028 cycle approaches, the renewed attention arrives at a sensitive time. Critics of Newsom’s record in California may see the episode as further evidence that his public image has long papered over personal and policy shortcomings.
Her decision to speak after years of following Harris’s advice also raises questions about how other stories involving prominent Democrats have been managed. The account adds another layer of scrutiny to a governor already facing challenges over California’s progressive policies and their real-world results.
Benjamin Harris is a RapidReports front page contributor and editor,proud father of four.
