Gavin Newsom‎

Gavin Christopher Newsom was born on October 10, 1967, in San Francisco, California, to Tessa Thomas (née Menzies) and William Alfred Newsom III, a state appeals court judge and attorney for Getty Oil.{{cite web|url=https://governors.library.ca.gov/40-Newsom.html|title=Gavin Newsom|website=The Governors' Gallery|publisher=California State Library|access-date=September 29, 2023}} A fourth-generation San Franciscan, Newsom comes from a prominent family with deep ties to the city. His maternal great-grandfather Thomas Addis was a pioneering nephrologist and professor of medicine at Stanford University noted for his groundbreaking research on kidney disease.{{cite web|url=https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2017/10/thomas-addis-stanford-nephrology-pioneer-remembered.html|title=Thomas Addis, Stanford Nephrology Pioneer, Remembered|website=Stanford Medicine News Center|date=October 10, 2017|access-date=February 25, 2025}} Newsom is a second cousin twice removed of musician Joanna Newsom,{{cite web|first=Jody|last=Rosen|url=https://nytimes.com/2010/03/07/magazine/07Newsom-t.html|title=Joanna Newsom, the Changeling|work=The New York Times|date=March 3, 2010|access-date=February 24, 2018|archive-date=June 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180609052337/https://mobile.nytimes.com/2010/03/07/magazine/07Newsom-t.html|url-status=live}} and his aunt Barbara Newsom was married to Ron Pelosi, the brother-in-law of former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi. Newsom’s parents divorced in 1971 when he was three years old, leaving his mother, Tessa, to raise him and his younger sister, Hilary Newsom Callan, largely on her own.{{cite news|last=Ronayne|first=Kathleen|title=Former California judge Newsom dies at 84|url=https://apnews.com/general-news-599506cc9d7443ca9cc0def4c611c77b|access-date=May 14, 2025|publisher=Associated Press|date=December 13, 2018}} Tessa worked three jobs—often as a waitress, bookkeeper, and secretary—to support the family, fostering a strong work ethic in her children.{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Gonzalez-Newsom-What-makes-them-run-From-2510021.php|title=Gonzalez, Newsom: What makes them run|author=Julian Guthrie|work=The San Francisco Chronicle|date=December 7, 2003|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-date=January 15, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040115222432/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/12/07/MNG313I2O41.DTL|url-status=live|url-access=limited}} Newsom has called his childhood challenging, shaped in part by financial instability and his struggle with "pretty severe" dyslexia, a condition he still has.{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/NEWSOM-S-PORTFOLIO-Mayoral-hopeful-has-parlayed-2632672.php|title=NEWSOM'S PORTFOLIO / Mayoral hopeful has parlayed Getty money, family ties and political connections into local prominence|author1=Chuck Finnie|author2=Rachel Gordon|author3=Lance Williams|date=February 23, 2003|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030331122359/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/02/23/MN245262.DTL|archive-date=March 31, 2003|url-access=limited|url-status=live}}

Newsom's education began at École Notre Dame des Victoires, a French-American bilingual Catholic school in San Francisco that he attended for kindergarten and first grade. But his severe dyslexia—which affected his ability to read, write, spell, and perform numerical tasks (dyscalculia)—prompted a transfer. He continued at Notre Dame des Victoires from third through fifth grades, where he was enrolled in remedial reading classes to cope with his learning difficulties. Throughout his years in school, Newsom relied heavily on audiobooks, summaries, and verbal instruction. He still prefers audio interpretations of documents and reports.{{cite book|last=Newsom|first=Gavin|date=March 8, 2020|title=Citizenville|publisher=Penguin|page=49|isbn=978-0-14-312447-4}} In a 2023 interview, he said his dyslexia "forced me to find workarounds and think differently—skills I still use every day as governor."{{cite web|last=Marinucci|first=Carla|title=Gavin Newsom on dyslexia, 2024 rumors and what he'd do if he could run for president|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/27/gavin-newsom-dyslexia-2024-interview-00118723|website=POLITICO|date=September 27, 2023|access-date=February 25, 2025}} At Redwood High School in Larkspur, California, Newsom excelled athletically despite his academic struggles, graduating in 1985. He played basketball as a shooting guard and baseball as an outfielder, earning recognition on the cover of the Marin Independent Journal for his skills. His sister Hilary recalled lean Christmases when their mother warned them not to expect gifts, underscoring the family’s financial strain. Tessa opened their home to foster children, a practice that Newsom has said instilled in him a lifelong commitment to public service.{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/magazine/article/Newsom-in-Four-Acts-What-shaped-the-man-who-2736568.php|title=Newsom in Four Acts|date=January 23, 2005|work=The San Francisco Chronicle|author=Mike Weiss|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-date=March 5, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050305143905/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/01/23/CMGD9AHK721.DTL|url-status=live|url-access=limited}} His father’s habit of donating much of his income further tightened the family’s finances, leading Newsom to take various jobs—such as washing cars and working at a local deli—during high school to help out.{{cite news|first=Cecilia|last=Vega|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Newsom-reflects-on-4-years-of-ups-and-downs-as-2533911.php|title=Newsom reflects on 4 years of ups and downs as election approaches|work=The San Francisco Chronicle|date=October 27, 2007|access-date=March 7, 2008|archive-date=December 6, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071206022045/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2007%2F10%2F21%2FMNIGSN4FM.DTL|url-status=live|url-access=limited}}

Newsom enrolled at Santa Clara University on a partial baseball scholarship, graduating in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science in political science. He tried out for the baseball team during his first two years but underwent elbow surgery in late 1985—later revealed as a procedure to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament—ending his varsity aspirations.{{cite news|last=Koseff|first=Alexei|date=April 4, 2024|title=Gavin Newsom says baseball saved him. But the legend of his career doesn't always match the reality|url=http://calmatters.org/politics/2024/04/gavin-newsom-baseball-college/|access-date=April 4, 2024|work=CalMatters|language=en-US}} He has credited the university’s Jesuit education with fostering his independent thinking and skepticism of conventional wisdom.{{cite news|url=http://media.www.thesantaclara.com/media/storage/paper946/news/2008/02/14/News/San-Franciscos.Gavin.Newsom.Sits.Down.With.The.Santa.Clara-3210314.shtml|title=San Francisco's Gavin Newsom sits down with The Santa Clara Newsom discusses how Santa Clara guides his career|last=Boffi|first=Kristen|date=April 12, 2008|work=The Santa Clara|access-date=April 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426073753/http://media.www.thesantaclara.com/media/storage/paper946/news/2008/02/14/News/San-Franciscos.Gavin.Newsom.Sits.Down.With.The.Santa.Clara-3210314.shtml|archive-date=April 26, 2009}} During his junior year, Newsom spent a semester studying abroad in Rome, Italy, an experience he called "eye-opening" in a 2019 speech, exposing him to global perspectives that influenced his political career.{{cite web|title=Governor Gavin Newsom Delivers Keynote at Santa Clara University Commencement|url=https://www.scu.edu/news-and-events/feature-stories/2019/stories/governor-gavin-newsom-delivers-keynote-at-commencement.html|website=Santa Clara University|date=June 15, 2019|access-date=February 25, 2025}}

Newsom and his investors created the company PlumpJack Associates L.P. on May 14, 1991. The group started the PlumpJack Winery in 1992 with the financial help{{cite web|url=http://www.sfweekly.com/2003-04-02/news/bringing-up-baby-gavin|title=Bringing Up Baby Gavin|last=Byrne|first=Peter|date=April 2, 2003|work=SF Weekly|access-date=June 10, 2014|archive-date=July 22, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722023716/http://www.sfweekly.com/2003-04-02/news/bringing-up-baby-gavin/|url-status=live}} of his family friend Gordon Getty. PlumpJack was the name of an opera written by Getty, who invested in 10 of Newsom's 11 businesses. Getty told the San Francisco Chronicle that he treated Newsom like a son and invested in his first business venture because of that relationship. According to Getty, later business investments were because of "the success of the first".

One of Newsom's early interactions with government occurred when Newsom resisted the San Francisco Department of Public Health's requirement to install a sink at his PlumpJack wine store.{{Cite news |last=Bollag |first=Sophia |date=April 12, 2021 |title=Fact check: Did Newsom exempt wineries from CA COVID-19 rules? |url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article250504449.html |access-date=May 28, 2024 |work=The Sacramento Bee}} The Health Department argued that wine was a food and required the store to install a $27,000 sink in the carpeted wine shop on the grounds that the shop needed the sink for a mop. When Newsom was later appointed supervisor, he told the San Francisco Examiner: "That's the kind of bureaucratic malaise I'm going to be working through."

The business grew to an enterprise with more than 700 employees. The PlumpJack Cafe Partners L.P. opened the PlumpJack Café, also on Fillmore Street, in 1993. Between 1993 and 2000, Newsom and his investors opened several other businesses that included the PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn with a PlumpJack Café (1994), a winery in Napa Valley (1995), the Balboa Café Bar and Grill (1995), the PlumpJack Development Fund L.P. (1996), the MatrixFillmore Bar (1998), PlumpJack Wines shop Noe Valley branch (1999), PlumpJackSport retail clothing (2000), and a second Balboa Café at Squaw Valley (2000). Newsom's investments included five restaurants and two retail clothing stores. Newsom's annual income was greater than $429,000 from 1996 to 2001. In 2002, his business holdings were valued at more than $6.9 million. Newsom gave a monthly $50 gift certificate to PlumpJack employees whose business ideas failed, because in his view, "There can be no success without failure."{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/e/a/1997/03/11/BUSINESS14992.dtl|title=Newsom's Way: He hopes business success can translate to public service|author=George Raine|work=San Francisco Examiner|date=March 11, 1997|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-date=December 8, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208235912/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/e/a/1997/03/11/BUSINESS14992.dtl|url-status=dead}}

Newsom sold his share of his San Francisco businesses when he became mayor in 2004. He maintained his ownership in the PlumpJack companies outside San Francisco, including the PlumpJack Winery in Oakville, California, new PlumpJack-owned Cade Winery in Angwin, California, and the PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn. He is the president in absentia of Airelle Wines Inc., which is connected to the PlumpJack Winery in Napa County. Newsom earned between $141,000 and $251,000 in 2007 from his business interests.{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Mayor-has-financial-holdings-at-Napa-Tahoe-3219763.php|title=Mayor has financial holdings at Napa, Tahoe|author=Cecilia M. Vega|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=April 1, 2008|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-date=April 3, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080403104703/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/01/BAC1VTCK2.DTL|url-status=live|url-access=limited}} In February 2006, he paid $2,350,000 for his residence in the Russian Hill neighborhood, which he put on the market in April 2009 for $3,000,000.{{cite news|url=http://sfluxe.com/2009/04/24/newsom-penthouse-for-sale/|title=Newsom Penthouse For Sale|work=San Francisco Luxury, SFLuxe.com|date=April 24, 2009|access-date=April 24, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090517092610/http://sfluxe.com/2009/04/24/newsom-penthouse-for-sale/|archive-date=May 17, 2009}}

At the time of the Silicon Valley Bank collapse in March 2023, it was acknowledged that at least three of Newsom's wine companies, PlumpJack, Cade and Odette, were Silicon Valley Bank clients.{{cite news|url=https://theintercept.com/2023/03/14/cheering-silicon-valley-bank-bailout-gavin-newsom-doesnt-mention-hes-a-client/|title=Cheering Silicon Valley Bank Bailout, Gavin Newsom Doesn't Mention He's A Client|first=Ken|last=Klippenstein|publisher=The Intercept|date=March 14, 2023|access-date=March 16, 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.svb.com/globalassets/library/uploadedfiles/svb-client-wine-promotions-mar-2020.pdf|title=Silicon Valley Bank Wine Division Premium Wine Client Promotions|publisher=svb.com|date=April 1, 2020|access-date=March 16, 2023}}

{{See also|Electoral history of Gavin Newsom}}

File:San Francisco Supervisor Gavin Newsom, District 2 1999.jpg

Newsom's first political experience came when he volunteered for Willie Brown's successful campaign for mayor in 1995. Newsom hosted a private fundraiser at his PlumpJack Café. Brown appointed Newsom to a vacant seat on the Parking and Traffic Commission in 1996, and he was later elected president of the commission. Brown appointed him to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors seat vacated by Kevin Shelley in 1997. At the time, he was the youngest member of San Francisco's board of supervisors.{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/S-F-s-New-Supervisor-Bold-Young-Entrepreneur-2855573.php|title=S.F.'s New Supervisor – Bold, Young Entrepreneur|author=John King|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=February 4, 1997|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-date=December 8, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208234032/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F1997%2F02%2F04%2FMN64501.DTL|url-status=live|url-access=limited}}{{cite news|url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Board-gets-a-straight-white-male-3137792.php|title=Board gets a straight white male |author=Ray Delgado|work=San Francisco Examiner|date=February 3, 1997|access-date=May 14, 2025}}

Newsom was sworn in by his father and pledged to bring his business experience to the board.{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/e/a/1997/02/14/NEWS6815.dtl|title=Newsom gets his political feet wet|first=Rachel|last=Gordon|work=San Francisco Examiner|date=February 14, 1997|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-date=December 8, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208235907/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fe%2Fa%2F1997%2F02%2F14%2FNEWS6815.dtl|url-status=dead}} Brown called Newsom "part of the future generation of leaders of this great city". Newsom described himself as a "social liberal and a fiscal watchdog". He was elected to a full four-year term to the board in 1998. San Francisco voters chose to abandon at-large elections to the board for the previous district system in 1999. Newsom was reelected in 2000 and 2002 to represent the second district, which includes Pacific Heights, the Marina, Cow Hollow, Sea Cliff and Laurel Heights, which had San Francisco's highest income level and highest Republican registration.{{cite news|last=Epstein|first=Edward|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/LONE-CANDIDATE-IS-GOING-ALL-OUT-IN-DISTRICT-2-3303437.php|title=Lone Candidate is Going All Out in District 2 Race|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=September 15, 2000|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-date=December 8, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208234055/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2000%2F09%2F15%2FMN61774.DTL|url-status=live|url-access=limited}} Newsom paid $500 to the San Francisco Republican Party to appear on the party's endorsement slate in 2000 while running for Supervisor.{{Cite web |last=Lauterborn |first=Peter |date=October 1, 2007 |title=Newsom's Expensive Silence |url=https://beyondchron.org/newsoms-expensive-silence/ |access-date=January 23, 2023 |website=Beyond Chron |language=en-US}} He was reelected.{{Cite web |title=Gavin Newsom through the years |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Gavin-Newsom-through-the-years-3282652.php |website=San Francisco Chronicle|date=October 31, 2009|access-date=May 14, 2025|url-access=limited|url-status=live|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20110217230655/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/10/31/MNVV1AD9CM.DTL|archive-date=February 17, 2011}}

As a San Francisco Supervisor, Newsom gained public attention for his role in advocating reform of the city's municipal railway (Muni). He was one of two supervisors endorsed by Rescue Muni, a transit riders group, in his 1998 reelection. He sponsored Proposition B to require Muni and other city departments to develop detailed customer service plans.{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Muni-Riders-Back-Newsom-And-Ammiano-2987650.php|title=Muni Riders Back Newsom And Ammiano|author=Edward Epstein|work= San Francisco Chronicle|date=October 2, 1998|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-date=December 8, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208234042/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F1998%2F10%2F02%2FMN91413.DTL|url-status=live|url-access=limited}} The measure passed with 56.6% of the vote.{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/HOW-SAN-FRANCISCO-VOTED-2980387.php|title=How San Francisco Voted|work= San Francisco Chronicle|date=November 5, 1998|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-date=January 16, 2000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000116030528/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1998/11/05/MN85585.DTL|url-status=dead|url-access=limited}} Newsom sponsored a ballot measure from Rescue Muni; a version of the measure was approved by voters in November 1999.

Newsom also supported allowing restaurants to serve alcohol at their outdoor tables, banning tobacco advertisements visible from the streets, stiffer penalties for landlords who run afoul of rent-control laws, and a resolution, which was defeated, to commend Colin Powell for raising money for youth programs.{{cite news|title=Fights idea that he's a Brown "appendage'|first=Rachel|last=Gordon|date=October 16, 1998|work=San Francisco Examiner|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/e/a/1998/10/16/NEWS2969.dtl|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-date=December 8, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208235923/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/e/a/1998/10/16/NEWS2969.dtl|url-status=dead}} Newsom's support for business interests at times strained his relationship with labor leaders.

During Newsom's time as supervisor, he supported housing projects through public-private partnerships to increase homeownership and affordable housing in San Francisco. He supported HOPE, a failed local ballot measure that would have allowed an increased condo-conversion rate if a certain percentage of tenants within a building were buying their units. As a candidate for mayor, he supported building 10,000 new housing units to create 15,000 new construction jobs.

Newsom's signature achievement as a supervisor was a voter initiative called Care Not Cash (Measure N), which offered care, supportive housing, drug treatment, and help from behavioral health specialists for the homeless in lieu of direct cash aid from the state's general assistance program. Many homeless rights advocates protested against the initiative. "Progressives and Democrats, nuns and priests, homeless advocates and homeless people were furious", Newsom said.{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Dakota|date=October 23, 2018|title=Gavin Newsom's approach to fixing homelessness in San Francisco outraged activists. And he's proud of it|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-gavin-newsom-homelessness-san-francisco-20181023-story.html|access-date=May 14, 2025|website=Los Angeles Times|archive-date=November 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101010305/http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-gavin-newsom-homelessness-san-francisco-20181023-story.html|url-status=dead|url-access=limited}} The successfully passed ballot measure raised his political profile and provided the volunteers, donors, and campaign staff that helped make him a leading contender for the mayorship in 2003. In a city audit released in 2008, the program was evaluated as largely successful for lowering average cash payments per person from over $300 to $78 and the number of people receiving cash payments from over 2,500 to about 640.{{cite web|last=Buchanan|first=Wyatt|date=May 1, 2008|title=S.F.'s Care Not Cash a success, audit shows|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/S-F-s-Care-Not-Cash-a-success-audit-shows-3285469.php|archive-date=October 27, 2010|website=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=May 17, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101027194629/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/01/BAVN10EJ5T.DTL|url-status=dead|url-access=limited}}

{{Main|2003 San Francisco mayoral election}}

File:Gavin Newsom, San Francisco, 1999.jpg

Newsom placed first in the November 4, 2003, general election in a nine-person field. He received 41.9% of the vote to Green Party candidate Matt Gonzalez's 19.6% in the first round of balloting, but faced a closer race in the December 9 runoff, when many of the city's progressive groups supported Gonzalez. The race was partisan, with attacks against Gonzalez for his support of Ralph Nader in the 2000 presidential election, and attacks against Newsom for contributing $500 to a Republican slate mailer in 2000 that endorsed issues Newsom supported.{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Mayoral-hopefuls-come-out-swinging-in-debate-2512314.php|title=Mayoral hopefuls come out swinging in debate|first1=John|last1=Wildermuth|first2=Rachel|last2=Gordon|work=San Francisco Chronicle|page=A-1|date=November 12, 2003|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-date=December 28, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031228075727/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/11/12/MNGR82VUTB1.DTL|url-status=live|url-access=limited}}{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/S-F-CAMPAIGN-NOTEBOOK-2510156.php|title=SF Campaign Notebook|author1=John Wildermuth|author2=Katia Hetter|author3=Demian Bulwa|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=December 3, 2003|page=A-27|access-date=March 10, 2008|archive-date=December 28, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031228091332/www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/12/03/BAGSD3EQJ51.DTL|url-status=live|url-access=limited}} Democratic leadership felt they needed to reinforce San Francisco as a Democratic stronghold after losing the 2000 presidential election and the 2003 gubernatorial recall election to Arnold Schwarzenegger. National Democratic Party figures, including Bill Clinton, Al Gore, and Jesse Jackson, campaigned for Newsom.{{cite news |url=http://dir.salon.com/story/opinion/feature/2003/12/09/newsom/|title=San Francisco's Greens versus Democrats grudge-match |author=Joan Walsh|work=Salon.com|date=December 9, 2003|access-date=May 14, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724035849/http://dir.salon.com/story/opinion/feature/2003/12/09/newsom/|archive-date=July 24, 2008|url-status=dead}} Five supervisors endorsed Gonzalez, while Willie Brown endorsed Newsom.

Newsom won the runoff with 53% of the vote to Gonzalez's 47%, a margin of 11,000 votes. He ran as a business-friendly centrist Democrat and a moderate in San Francisco politics. Some of his opponents called him conservative. Newsom claimed he was a centrist in the Dianne Feinstein mold.{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2003/10/29/carollloyd.DTL|title=From Pacific Heights, Newsom Is Pro-Development and Anti-Handout|author=Carol Lloyd|work=SF Gate|date=October 29, 2003|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-date=December 8, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208235929/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fg%2Fa%2F2003%2F10%2F29%2Fcarollloyd.DTL|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/IT-S-NEWSOM-VS-GONZALEZ-Headed-for-runoff-2550747.php|title=It's Newsom vs. Gonzalez|first1=Rachel|last1=Gordon|first2=Julian|last2=Guthrie|author3=Joe Garofoli|work=San Francisco Chronicle|page=A-1|date=November 5, 2003|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-date=November 15, 2003|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20031115014810/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/11/05/MNGC82QIQG1.DTL|url-status=live|url-access=limited}} He ran on the slogan "great cities, great ideas", and presented over 21 policy papers.{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/living/article/See-how-they-ran-Arnold-who-Matt-Gonzalez-2524761.php|title=See how they ran|author=Carol Lloyd|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=December 21, 2003|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-date=January 31, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040131180840/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/12/21/LVGVB3ONBA1.DTL|url-status=live|url-access=limited}} He pledged to continue working on San Francisco's homelessness issue.{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/NEWSOM-THE-TIME-FOR-CHANGE-IS-HERE-TIGHT-2546443.php|title=Newsom: 'The Time for Change is Here'|first1=Rachel|last1=Gordon|first2=Mark|last2=Simon|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=December 10, 2003|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-date=May 11, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040511030348/http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/12/10/MNGQV3IVM61.DTL|url-status=live|url-access=limited}}

Newsom was sworn in as mayor on January 8, 2004.{{cite web|last=Gordon|first=Rachel|title=Newsom says he'll rock the boat at City Hall |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/S-F-IN-TRANSITION-Newsom-says-he-ll-rock-the-2814969.php|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=January 8, 2004|access-date=May 15, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040209013329/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/01/08/MNGDI45PV61.DTL|archive-date=February 9, 2004|url-status=live|url-access=limited}} He called for unity among the city's political factions, and promised to address the issues of public schools, potholes and affordable housing.{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Mayor-Newsom-s-goal-a-common-purpose-2815109.php|title=Mayor Newsom's goal: a 'common purpose' / CHALLENGES AHEAD: From potholes to the homeless|first=Rachel|last=Gordon|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=January 9, 2004|access-date=May 14, 2025|url-access=limited}} Newsom said he was "a different kind of leader" who "isn't afraid to solve even the toughest problems".{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Mayor-s-challenge-finishing-what-he-started-2544290.php|title=Mayor's challenge: finishing what he started|first1=Rachel|last1=Gordon|first2=Mark|last2=Simon|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=January 8, 2006|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-date=March 13, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060313032906/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/01/08/MNGHGGK8O21.DTL|url-status=live|url-access=limited}}

{{Main|2007 San Francisco mayoral election}}

San Francisco's progressive community tried to field a candidate to run a strong campaign against Newsom. Supervisors Ross Mirkarimi and Chris Daly considered running, but both declined. Gonzalez also decided not to challenge Newsom again.{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/SAN-FRANCISCO-Newsom-faces-few-hurdles-to-2557600.php|title=Newsom faces few hurdles to re-election|author1=Cecilia M. Vega|author2=Wyatt Buchanan|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=June 3, 2007|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-date=November 6, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071106050831/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2007%2F06%2F03%2FBAGSGQ6TAD1.DTL|url-status=live|url-access=limited}}

When the August 10, 2007, filing deadline passed, San Francisco's discussion shifted to talk about Newsom's second term. He was challenged in the election by 13 candidates, including George Davis, a nudist activist, and Michael Powers, owner of the Power Exchange sex club.{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Newsom-lacks-serious-challengers-but-lineup-is-2548103.php|title=Newsom lacks serious challengers, but lineup is full of characters|author=Cecilia M. Vega|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=August 11, 2007|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-date=December 8, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208234554/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2007%2F08%2F11%2FMNVVRFQM6.DTL|url-status=live|url-access=limited}} Conservative former supervisor Tony Hall withdrew by early September due to lack of support.{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/When-Newsom-gets-a-free-pass-for-4-more-years-2505023.php|title=When Newsom gets a free pass for 4 more years, nobody wins|author=C.W. Nevius|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=September 6, 2007|access-date=March 15, 2008|archive-date=December 8, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208234608/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2007%2F09%2F06%2FBAICRVOQ8.DTL|url-status=live|url-access=limited}}

The San Francisco Chronicle declared in August 2007 that Newsom faced no "serious threat to his re-election bid", having raised $1.6 million for his reelection campaign by early August.{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Far-out-in-front-Newsom-is-raising-war-size-war-2512442.php|title=Far-out in front - Newsom is raising war-size war chest|author=Cecilia M. Vega|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=August 3, 2007|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-date=August 16, 2007|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20070816140326/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/08/03/BA01RC83I2.DTL|url-status=live|url-access=limited}} He was reelected on November 6 with over 72% of the vote.{{cite web|date=November 6, 2007|url=http://www.sfgov.org/site/elections_index.asp?id=68841 |title="Election Summary: November 6, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525113610/http://www.sfgov.org/site/elections_index.asp?id=68841 |archive-date=May 25, 2012|publisher= San Francisco City and County Department of Elections}} Upon taking office for a second term, Newsom promised to focus on the environment, homelessness, health care, education, housing, and rebuilding San Francisco General Hospital.{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Newsom-s-139-700-office-spending-spree-3297664.php|title=Newsom's $139,700 office spending spree|author=Cecilia M. Vega|work=The San Francisco Chronicle|date=January 18, 2008|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-date=February 21, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221052115/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2008%2F01%2F18%2FMNJIUH4BF.DTL|url-status=live|url-access=limited}}{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/NEWSOM-S-2ND-ACT-3236820.php|title=Newsom's 2nd Act|author1=Cecilia M. Vega|author2=John Wildermuth|author3=Heather Knight|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=November 7, 2007|access-date=May 14, 2025|url-access=limited}}

{{Main|Mayoralty of Gavin Newsom}}

File:Gavin Newsom speaking, No on Proposition 8 rally, UC Berkeley (October 2008).jpg in 2008]]

As mayor, Newsom focused on development projects in Hunters Point and Treasure Island.

He gained national attention in 2004 when he directed the San Francisco city–county clerk to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, violating a state law passed in 2000.{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/08/10/state/n000208D48.DTL|title=Newsom set to endorse Clinton for president|author=Lisa Leff|publisher=Associated Press|date=August 10, 2007|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209000025/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fn%2Fa%2F2007%2F08%2F10%2Fstate%2Fn000208D48.DTL|archive-date=December 9, 2008|url-status=dead|via=SFGate.com}} Implementation of Care Not Cash, the initiative he had sponsored as a supervisor, began on July 1, 2004. As part of the initiative, 5,000 more homeless people were given permanent shelter in the city. About 2,000 people had been placed into permanent housing with support by 2007. Other programs Newsom initiated to end chronic homelessness included the San Francisco Homeless Outreach Team (SF HOT) and Project Homeless Connect (PHC), which placed 2,000 homeless people into permanent housing and provided 5,000 additional affordable rental units in the city.

During a strike by hotel workers against a dozen San Francisco hotels, Newsom joined UNITE HERE union members on a picket line in front of the Westin St. Francis Hotel on October 27, 2004. He vowed that the city would boycott the hotels by not sponsoring city events at them until they agreed to a contract with workers. The contract dispute was settled in September 2006.Unite Here Local 2, [https://www.unitehere2.org/history/ "History"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026025027/https://www.unitehere2.org/history/ |date=October 26, 2018 }}, October 25, 2018.

In 2005, Newsom pushed for a state law to allow California communities to create policy restricting certain breeds of dogs.{{cite news|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050701/news_1n1dogs.html|title=Cities, counties may be allowed to restrict specific dog breeds|journal=The San Diego Union-Tribune|access-date=November 27, 2014|archive-date=August 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826115746/http://www.utsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050701/news_1n1dogs.html|url-status=live}} In 2007, he signed the law establishing Healthy San Francisco to provide city residents with universal health care, the first city in the nation to do so.[https://www.marinij.com/2018/02/23/gavin-newsom-wasnt-always-such-a-liberal-crusader/ Gavin Newsom wasn't always such a liberal crusader] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508224312/https://www.marinij.com/2018/02/23/gavin-newsom-wasnt-always-such-a-liberal-crusader/ |date=May 8, 2021 }}, Sacramento Bee, Christopher Cadelago, July 19, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2021.

Newsom came under attack from the San Francisco Democratic Party in 2009 for his failure to implement the City of San Francisco's sanctuary city rule, under which the city was to not assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.{{cite news|url=http://www.sfchronicle.com/default/article/S-F-Dems-blast-mayor-in-sanctuary-city-case-3167150.php|newspaper=The San Francisco Chronicle|title=S.F. Dems blast mayor in sanctuary city case|first=Heather|last=Knight|date=March 27, 2009|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-date=March 30, 2009|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20090330135303/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/27/BAN216NNQO.DTL|url-status=live|url-access=limited}}

The same year, Newsom received the Leadership for Healthy Communities Award, along with Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City and three other public officials, for his commitment to making healthful food and physical activity options more accessible to children and families.{{cite web|url=http://www.leadershipforhealthycommunities.org/content/view/284/58|title=Top Policy Groups Take Action to Create Healthy Communities, Prevent Childhood Obesity|publisher=Leadership for Healthy Communities|access-date=November 18, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630054147/http://www.leadershipforhealthycommunities.org/content/view/284/58|archive-date=June 30, 2009}} He hosted the Urban-Rural Roundtable in 2008 to explore ways to promote regional food development and increased access to healthy, affordable food.{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/S-F-food-policy-heading-in-a-healthy-direction-3182972.php|title=S.F. food policy heading in a healthy direction|first=Erin|last=Allday|work=The San Francisco Chronicle|date=November 30, 2008|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-date=December 6, 2008|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20081206060010/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/30/BA6A14C5S1.DTL|url-status=live|url-access=limited}} Newsom secured $8 million in federal and local funds for the Better Streets program,{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgov.org/site/mayor_index.asp?id=82219|title=Mayor Newsom Unveils Better Streets Plan |publisher=San Francisco Office of the Mayor|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610091237/http://www.sfgov.org/site/mayor_index.asp?id=82219|archive-date=June 10, 2008|url-status=dead}} which ensures that public health perspectives are fully integrated into urban planning processes. He signed a menu-labeling bill into law, requiring that chain restaurants print nutrition information on their menus.{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/S-F-pushes-legislation-to-promote-good-health-3202137.php|title=S.F. pushes legislation to promote good health|first=Heather|last=Knight|work=The San Francisco Chronicle|date=August 4, 2008|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-date=August 10, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080810214412/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/04/MNBG122T4F.DTL|url-status=live|url-access=limited}}

Newsom was named "America's Most Social Mayor" in 2010 by Same Point, based on analysis of the social media profiles of mayors of the 100 largest U.S. cities.{{cite news|last=Shih|first=Gerry|url=http://archive.nytimes.com/bayarea.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/19/gavin-newsom-the-twitter-prince|title=Gavin Newsom, the Twitter Prince|work=The New York Times|date=February 19, 2010|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-date=May 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510005605/http://bayarea.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/19/gavin-newsom-the-twitter-prince/|url-status=live}}

Newsom gained national attention in 2004 when he directed the San Francisco city–county clerk to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, violating state law. In August 2004, the Supreme Court of California annulled the marriages Newsom had authorized, as they conflicted with state law. Still, Newsom's unexpected move brought national attention to the issue of same-sex marriage, solidifying political support for him in San Francisco and in the LGBTQ+ community.{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-gaymarriage16-2008may16,0,3999077,full.story|title=California Supreme Court overturns gay marriage ban|last=Dolan|first=Maura|date=May 16, 2008|work=The Los Angeles Times|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-date=May 19, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080519180433/http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-gaymarriage16-2008may16,0,3999077,full.story|url-status=dead}}

During the 2008 election, Newsom opposed Proposition 8, the ballot initiative to reverse the Supreme Court of California ruling that there was a constitutional right to same-sex marriage.{{cite web|url=https://abc7news.com/archive/6477948/|title=San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom fights for same-sex marriage|date=October 29, 2008|website=ABC Local|access-date=November 18, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604024309/http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news%2Fstate&id=6477948|archive-date=June 4, 2011}} Proposition 8 supporters released a commercial featuring footage of Newsom saying the following in a speech regarding same-sex marriage: "This door's wide open now. It's going to happen, whether you like it or not."{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Newsom-was-central-to-same-sex-marriage-saga-3186381.php|title=Newsom was central to same-sex marriage saga|last=Allday|first=Erin|date=November 6, 2008|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=February 11, 2022|archive-date=June 1, 2009|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20090601132732/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/05/MN1B13S3D3.DTL|url-status=live|url-access=limited}} Some observers noted that polls shifted in favor of Proposition 8 after the commercial's release; this, in turn, led to speculation that Newsom had inadvertently played a role in the amendment's passage.{{cite web|last=Hecht|first=Peter|url=http://www.sacbee.com/295/story/1470639.html|title=Newsom seeks to get beyond Prop. 8 fiasco in quest to become governor|date=December 13, 2008|page=1A|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211015140/http://www.sacbee.com/295/story/1470639.html|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-date=February 11, 2009|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/180047|title=SF Mayor Gavin Newsom Risks Career on Gay Marriage|date=January 17, 2009|work=Newsweek|author=Jonathan Darman|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-date=April 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417091424/http://www.newsweek.com/id/180047|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://washblade.com/2008/11-28/news/national/13649.cfm|title=An interview with Gavin Newsom |work= Washington Blade|date=December 1, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201080635/http://washblade.com/2008/11-28/news/national/13649.cfm|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-date=December 1, 2008|url-status=dead}}

{{See also|2010 California lieutenant gubernatorial election}}

File:Gavin Newsom official photo.jpg

File:Newsom Brown rally.jpg for governor, October 2010]]

Newsom filed initial paperwork to run for lieutenant governor in February 2010,{{cite web|url=http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=75568|title=Gavin Newsom, San Francisco mayor, files papers in lieutenant governor race|website=News10|date=February 17, 2010|access-date=November 18, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607083231/http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=75568|archive-date=June 7, 2011}} and officially announced his candidacy in March.{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/cityinsider/detail?entry_id=58967|title=City Insider: It's official: Newsom's running for lieutenant governor|first=John|last=Coté|work=The San Francisco Chronicle|date=March 12, 2010|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-date=March 14, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100314161413/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/cityinsider/detail?entry_id=58967|url-status=dead}} He received the Democratic nomination in June{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2010/06/california-election-results-gavin-newsom.html|title=PolitiCal|date=June 8, 2010|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=June 9, 2010|archive-date=June 12, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612091449/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2010/06/california-election-results-gavin-newsom.html|url-status=live}} and won the election on November 2.{{cite web|url=http://www.stanforddaily.com/2010/11/03/brown-newsom-boxer-elected/|title=Brown, Newsom, Boxer elected|access-date=March 11, 2010|work=The Stanford Daily|archive-date=November 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101106014300/http://www.stanforddaily.com/2010/11/03/brown-newsom-boxer-elected/|url-status=live}} Newsom was sworn in as lieutenant governor on January 10, 2011, and served under Governor Jerry Brown.

While lieutenant governor, in May 2012, Newsom began hosting The Gavin Newsom Show on Current TV. The same month, he drew criticism for calling Sacramento "dull" and saying he was only there once a week, adding "there's no reason" to be there otherwise.{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/29/gavin-newsom-on-sacramento_n_1554208.html|title=Gavin Newsom on Sacramento|author=Aaron Sankin|work=Huffington Post|date=May 29, 2012|access-date=August 9, 2012|archive-date=June 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604130242/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/29/gavin-newsom-on-sacramento_n_1554208.html|url-status=live}}

{{See also|2014 California lieutenant gubernatorial election}}

Newsom was reelected as lieutenant governor on November 4, 2014, defeating Republican Ron Nehring with 57.2% of the vote. His second term began on January 5, 2015.{{cite news|url=http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/11/04/former-san-francisco-mayor-gavin-newsom-re-elected-california-lieutenant-governor|title=Former San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom Re-Elected California Lieutenant Governor|work=CBS News|date=November 4, 2014|access-date=March 6, 2015|archive-date=April 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403211801/http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/11/04/former-san-francisco-mayor-gavin-newsom-re-elected-california-lieutenant-governor/|url-status=live}}

Newsom supported a failed measure in 2012 that sought to end capital punishment in California. He claimed the initiative would save California millions of dollars, citing statistics that California had spent $5 billion since 1978 to execute just 13 people.{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-sac-essential-politics-updates-newsom-endorses-proposition-to-abolish-1468966153-htmlstory.html|title=Essential Politics July archives|last=Ulloa|first=Jazmine|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=April 14, 2017|issn=0458-3035|archive-date=April 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415011657/http://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-sac-essential-politics-updates-newsom-endorses-proposition-to-abolish-1468966153-htmlstory.html|url-status=live}}

In 2016, Newsom supported Proposition 62, which also would have repealed the death penalty in California. He argued that Prop. 62 would get rid of a system "that is administered with troubling racial disparities" and said that the death penalty was fundamentally immoral and did not deter crime. Proposition 62 failed.

In 2014, Newsom was the only statewide politician to endorse California Proposition 47, legislation that recategorized certain nonviolent offenses like drug and property crimes as misdemeanors as opposed to felonies. Voters passed the measure on November 4, 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article142719649.html|title=California gubernatorial candidates share views on criminal justice changes|website=sacbee.com|access-date=April 14, 2017|archive-date=April 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170414164843/http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article142719649.html|url-status=live}}

In July 2015, Newsom released the Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy's final report, which he had convened with the American Civil Liberties Union of California in 2013. The report's recommendations to regulate marijuana were intended to inform a legalization measure on the November 2016 ballot.{{cite web|last=Cadelago|first=Christopher|url=http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article28073746.html|title=Gavin Newsom's panel: Marijuana shouldn't be California's next Gold Rush|website=Sacbee.com|date=July 21, 2015|access-date=December 6, 2016|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202002249/http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article28073746.html|url-status=live}} Newsom supported the resulting measure, Proposition 64, which legalized cannabis use and cultivation for California state residents who are 21 or older.{{cite news|first=Patrick|last=McGreevey|url=http://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-lt-gov-newsom-writes-president-trump-1487972853-htmlstory.html|title=Essential Politics: State Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra to open Washington office, cap-and-trade auction revenue results are revealed|work=Los Angeles Times|date=February 24, 2017|access-date=April 13, 2017|issn=0458-3035|archive-date=April 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413050712/http://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-lt-gov-newsom-writes-president-trump-1487972853-htmlstory.html|url-status=live}}

On February 24, 2017, in response to pro-enforcement statements by White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, Newsom sent Attorney General Jeff Sessions and President Donald Trump a letter urging them not to increase federal enforcement against recreational cannabis firms opening in California. He wrote: "The government must not strip the legal and publicly supported industry of its business and hand it back to drug cartels and criminals{{nbsp}}... Dealers don't card kids. I urge you and your administration to work in partnership with California and the other eight states that have legalized recreational marijuana for adult use in a way that will let us enforce our state laws that protect the public and our children while targeting the bad actors." Newsom responded to comments by Spicer that compared cannabis to opioids: "Unlike marijuana, opioids represent an addictive and harmful substance, and I would welcome your administration's focused efforts on tackling this particular public health crisis."

Newsom joined Long Beach City College Superintendent Eloy Oakley in a November 2015 op-ed calling for the creation of the California College Promise, which would create partnerships between public schools, public universities, and employers and offer a free community college education.{{cite news|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/2015/11/12/gavin-newsom-and-eloy-ortiz-oakley-free-community-college-tuition-will-drive-california-economy/|title=Gavin Newsom and Eloy Ortiz Oakley: Free community college tuition will drive California economy|newspaper=San Jose Mercury News|date=November 12, 2015|access-date=April 23, 2017|archive-date=April 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424174010/http://www.mercurynews.com/2015/11/12/gavin-newsom-and-eloy-ortiz-oakley-free-community-college-tuition-will-drive-california-economy/|url-status=live}} Throughout 2016, he joined Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf at the launch of the Oakland Promise and Second Lady Jill Biden and Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti at the launch of the LA Promise.{{cite news|url=http://www2.oaklandnet.com/w/oak056936|title=Oakland Launches Promise Initiative to Triple Number of College Graduates|website=City of Oakland|date=January 28, 2016|access-date=April 24, 2017|archive-date=May 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525065253/http://www2.oaklandnet.com/w/oak056936|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.lamayor.org/la-puts-higher-education-within-reach-all-students |title=L.A. puts higher education within reach for all students |website=City of Los Angeles |date=September 14, 2016 |access-date=April 23, 2017 |archive-date=April 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424174234/https://www.lamayor.org/la-puts-higher-education-within-reach-all-students |url-status=live }} In June 2016, Newsom helped secure $15 million in the state budget to support the creation of promise programs throughout the state.{{cite news |url=https://a52.asmdc.org/press-release/californias-college-promise-celebrated-local-elected-officials-education-leaders |title=California's College Promise Celebrated by Local Elected Officials, Education Leaders |website=California State Assembly |date=June 17, 2016 |access-date=April 23, 2017 |archive-date=April 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424174401/https://a52.asmdc.org/press-release/californias-college-promise-celebrated-local-elected-officials-education-leaders |url-status=live }}

In December 2015, Newsom called on the University of California to reclassify computer science courses as a core academic class to incentivize more high schools to offer computer science curricula.{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-computer-science-uc-calstate-admissions-20151202-story.html|title=Coalition calls for greater focus on computer science in UC, Cal State admissions|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=December 2, 2015|access-date=December 6, 2016|archive-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220070635/http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-computer-science-uc-calstate-admissions-20151202-story.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Johnson|first=Eric|url=http://www.recode.net/2015/12/2/11621054/silicon-valley-elite-call-on-california-schools-to-give-computer|title=Silicon Valley Urges Cal, CSU to Give Computer Science Full Credit in Admissions (Updated)|website=Recode.net|date=December 2, 2015|access-date=December 6, 2016|archive-date=October 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029033012/http://www.recode.net/2015/12/2/11621054/silicon-valley-elite-call-on-california-schools-to-give-computer|url-status=live}} He sponsored successful legislation signed by Governor Brown in September 2016, that began the planning process for expanding computer science education to all state students, beginning as early as kindergarten.{{cite news|url=https://edsource.org/2016/gov-brown-signs-law-to-plan-expansion-of-computer-science-education/569895|title=Gov. Brown signs law to plan expansion of computer science education|newspaper=EdSource|date=September 27, 2016|access-date=April 23, 2017|archive-date=April 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424174104/https://edsource.org/2016/gov-brown-signs-law-to-plan-expansion-of-computer-science-education/569895|url-status=live}}

In 2016, Newsom passed a series of reforms at the University of California to give student-athletes additional academic and injury-related support, and to ensure that contracts for athletic directors and coaches emphasized academic progress. This came in response to several athletics programs, including the University of California–Berkeley's football team, which had the lowest graduation rates in the country.{{cite web|url=http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/editorials/article77062657.html|title=Gavin Newsom places his stamp on UC sports policy; it's a start|website=Sacbee.com|date=May 11, 2016|access-date=December 6, 2016|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202002302/http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/editorials/article77062657.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Leff|first=Lisa|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/0a1079e5ed7e424ab9fb56fe80de2bbc/university-considers-expanding-student-athlete-protections|title=University panel adopts expanded student-athlete protections|website=Bigstory.ap.org|date=May 11, 2016|access-date=December 6, 2016|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202001134/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/0a1079e5ed7e424ab9fb56fe80de2bbc/university-considers-expanding-student-athlete-protections|url-status=live}}

Newsom released his first book, Citizenville: How to Take the Town Square Digital and Reinvent Government, on February 7, 2013.{{Cite book|title=Citizenville: How to Take the Town Square Digital and Reinvent Government|isbn=978-1-59420-472-2|last1=Newsom|first1=Gavin|year=2013|publisher=Penguin Press |url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/citizenvillehowt0000news}}{{cite web|url=https://www.penguin.com/search/citizenville|title=Citizenville|publisher=Penguin Books|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-date=September 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920020438/https://www.penguin.com/search/citizenville|url-status=live}} The book discusses the Gov 2.0 movement taking place across the nation. After its release, Newsom began to work with the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society at the University of California, Berkeley, on the California Report Card (CRC).{{cite web|last=Lucas|first=Scott|title=Gavin Newsom and a Berkeley Professor Are Trying to Disrupt Public Opinion Polls|url=http://www.modernluxury.com/san-francisco/story/gavin-newsom-and-berkeley-professor-are-trying-disrupt-public-opinion-polls|website=San Francisco Magazine|publisher=Modern Luxury|access-date=July 16, 2014|archive-date=July 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140721000938/http://www.modernluxury.com/san-francisco/story/gavin-newsom-and-berkeley-professor-are-trying-disrupt-public-opinion-polls|url-status=live}} The CRC is a mobile-optimized platform that allows state residents to "grade" their state on six timely issues. The CRC exemplifies ideas presented in Citizenville, encouraging direct public involvement in government affairs via technology.{{cite web|last1=Noveck|first1=Beth|title='Citizenville', by Gavin Newsom|url=http://www.sfgate.com/books/article/Citizenville-by-Gavin-Newsom-4321331.php|website=SFGate|access-date=July 16, 2014|date=March 2013|archive-date=July 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140720225929/http://www.sfgate.com/books/article/Citizenville-by-Gavin-Newsom-4321331.php|url-status=live}}

In 2015, Newsom partnered with the Institute for Advanced Technology and Public Policy at California Polytechnic State University to launch Digital Democracy, an online tool that uses facial and voice recognition to enable users to navigate California legislative proceedings.{{cite web |url=http://www.govtech.com/data/Lt-Gov-Gavin-Newsom-Former-Sen-Sam-Blakeslee-Launch-Digital-Democracy.html |title=Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, Former Sen. Sam Blakeslee Launch 'Digital Democracy' |website=Govtech.com |date=May 7, 2015 |access-date=December 6, 2016 |archive-date=February 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212143125/http://www.govtech.com/data/Lt-Gov-Gavin-Newsom-Former-Sen-Sam-Blakeslee-Launch-Digital-Democracy.html |url-status=live }}

File:California Governor Election Results by County, 2018.svg

File:2021 California gubernatorial recall election referendum results map by county.svg

File:2022 California gubernatorial election results map by county.svg

{{See also|2010 California gubernatorial election|2010 California lieutenant gubernatorial election}}

On April 21, 2009, Newsom announced his candidacy for governor of California in the 2010 election.Leff, Lisa (April 22, 2009). [https://www.newspapers.com/article/ventura-county-star-newsom-in-governors/136940436/ Newsom in governor's race]. Ventura County Star. He named state senator (and future U.S. senator) Alex Padilla to chair his campaign.[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-campaign-watch/136940169/ CAMPAIGN WATCH]. The Sacramento Bee. July 16, 2009. He received former president Bill Clinton's endorsement in September. Throughout the campaign, he had low poll numbers, trailing Democratic frontrunner Jerry Brown by more than 20 points in most polls.{{cite news|url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Poll-finds-Newsom-trailing-Brown-even-in-S-F-3219156.php|title=Campaign 2010/Mayor Newsom wants to move on up to the governor's place/Campaign expected to be very crowded and very expensive|first1=Phillip|last1=Matier|first2=Andrew|last2=Ross|work=The San Francisco Chronicle|date=August 24, 2009|access-date=January 19, 2010|archive-date=October 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019234353/http://articles.sfgate.com/2009-08-24/bay-area/17175365_1_jerry-brown-san-francisco-mayor-san-franciscans|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://johnnycalifornia.com/2008/11/12/governor-2010-new-field-poll-things-look-bad-for-newsom-not-so-bad-for-feinsteinvillaraigosa|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507100129/http://johnnycalifornia.com/2008/11/12/governor-2010-new-field-poll-things-look-bad-for-newsom-not-so-bad-for-feinsteinvillaraigosa/|archive-date=May 7, 2010|title=Governor 2010: New Field Poll – Things Look Bad For Newsom, Not So Bad for Feinstein and Villaraigosa|publisher=Johnny California|date=November 12, 2008|access-date=November 18, 2010}}{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-oct-31-me-newsom-out31-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|title=Gavin Newsom drops out of California governor's race|first1=Mark Z.|last1=Barabak|first2=Evan|last2=Halper|date=October 31, 2009|access-date=May 3, 2010|archive-date=March 27, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327112053/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/oct/31/local/me-newsom-out31|url-status=live}} Newsom dropped out of the race in October and ran for lieutenant governor instead.{{cite news|last=Selway|first=William|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a0jLxmmMJdmU|title=San Francisco Mayor Joins Race for California Governor in 2010|work=Bloomberg|date=April 21, 2009|access-date=November 18, 2010}}{{cite news|url=http://www.sfweekly.com/2009-09-09/news/the-wrong-stuff|last=Harrell|first=Ashley|title=The Wrong Stuff|newspaper=SF Weekly|date=September 9, 2009|access-date=November 19, 2009|archive-date=November 25, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091125080249/http://www.sfweekly.com/2009-09-09/news/the-wrong-stuff|url-status=live}}{{Cite press release |url=http://www.gavinnewsom.com/releases/statement_by_mayor_gavin_newsom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091102065946/http://www.gavinnewsom.com/releases/statement_by_mayor_gavin_newsom|archive-date=November 2, 2009|title=Statement by Mayor Gavin Newsom |publisher=Gavin Newsom for a Better California|date=October 30, 2009|access-date=January 6, 2010}}

{{See also|2018 California gubernatorial election}}

On February 11, 2015, Newsom announced that he was opening a campaign account for governor in the 2018 elections, allowing him to raise funds for a campaign to succeed Brown as governor of California.{{cite news|first=David|last=Siders|url=http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article9735230.html|title=Gavin Newsom to open campaign account for governor in 2018|work=Sacramento Bee|date=February 11, 2015|access-date=March 6, 2015|archive-date=August 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825235058/http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article9735230.html|url-status=live}} On June 5, 2018, he finished in the top two in the nonpartisan blanket primary, and he defeated Republican John H. Cox by a landslide in the November 6 general election.{{cite news |last=Hart |first=Angela |url=http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article212369614.html |title=Gavin Newsom, John Cox advance to general election in California governor's race |work=The Sacramento Bee |date=June 5, 2018 |access-date=June 6, 2018 |archive-date=June 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180607050610/http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article212369614.html |url-status=live }}

Newsom was sworn in on January 7, 2019.

{{Main article|2021 California gubernatorial recall election}}

Several recall attempts were launched against Newsom early in his tenure, but they failed to gain much traction. On February 21, 2020, a recall petition was introduced by Orrin Heatlie, a deputy sheriff in Yolo County. The petition mentioned Newsom's sanctuary state policy and said laws he endorsed favored "foreign nationals, in our country illegally"; said that California had high homelessness, high taxes, and low quality of life; and described other grievances.{{Cite news|last=Martichoux|first=Alix|date=February 3, 2021|title=Why do people want to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom? We explain|url=https://abc7.com/10256979/|access-date=February 11, 2021|work=ABC7 Los Angeles|archive-date=February 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215071215/https://abc7.com/10256979/|url-status=live}} The California secretary of state approved it for circulation on June 10, 2020.{{cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Gavin_Newsom_recall,_Governor_of_California_(2019-2021) |title=Gavin Newsom recall, Governor of California (2019–2021) |website=ballotpedia.org |access-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-date=May 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510172300/https://ballotpedia.org/Gavin_Newsom_recall,_Governor_of_California_(2019-2021) |url-status=live }}

Forcing the gubernatorial recall election required a total of 1,495,709 verified signatures. By August 2020, 55,000 signatures were submitted and verified by the secretary of state, and 890 new valid signatures were submitted by October 2020.{{cite news|url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article250130094.html|title=The origin of the Newsom recall had nothing to do with COVID-19. Here's why it began|work=The Sacramento Bee|first=Lara|last=Korte|date=March 29, 2021|access-date=September 16, 2021|archive-date=July 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716004726/https://account.sacbee.com/paywall/subscriber-only?resume=250130094|url-status=live}} The petition was initially given a signature deadline of November 17, 2020, but it was extended to March 17, 2021, after Judge James P. Arguelles ruled that petitioners could have more time because of the pandemic.{{cite news|url=https://timesofsandiego.com/politics/2020/11/06/newsom-recall-drive-gets-new-life-signature-deadline-delayed-to-march-17/|title=Newsom Recall Drive Gets New Life: Signature Deadline Delayed to March 17|first=Ken|last=Stone|work=Times of San Diego|date=November 6, 2020|access-date=December 16, 2020|archive-date=February 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203074946/https://timesofsandiego.com/politics/2020/11/06/newsom-recall-drive-gets-new-life-signature-deadline-delayed-to-march-17/|url-status=live}} Newsom's attendance at a party at The French Laundry in November 2020, despite his public health measures;Sources that reference Newsom's attendance at The French Laundry as a contributor to the recall petition:

• {{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/25/french-laundry-newsom-recall-drive-440736|title=French Laundry snafu reignites longshot Newsom recall drive|first=Carla|last=Marinucci|work=Politico|date=November 25, 2020|access-date=February 5, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206181031/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/25/french-laundry-newsom-recall-drive-440736|archive-date=December 6, 2020 |ref=none}}
• {{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/recall-effort-against-california-governor-attempt-destabilize-political-system-analysts-n1251498|title=Recall effort against California governor an attempt to 'destabilize the political system,' analysts say|first=Alicia|last=Victoria Lozano|work=NBC News|date=December 20, 2020|access-date=February 5, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110175902/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/recall-effort-against-california-governor-attempt-destabilize-political-system-analysts-n1251498|archive-date=January 10, 2021 |ref=none}}
• {{cite news|url=https://www.newsweek.com/gavin-newsom-under-renewed-fire-over-french-laundry-lobbyist-recall-bid-gains-steam-1558396|title=Gavin Newsom Under Renewed Fire Over French Laundry Lobbyist as Recall Bid Gains Steam|first=Meghan|last=Roos|work=Newsweek|date=December 31, 2020|access-date=February 5, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101003113/https://www.newsweek.com/gavin-newsom-under-renewed-fire-over-french-laundry-lobbyist-recall-bid-gains-steam-1558396|archive-date=January 1, 2021 |ref=none}}
• {{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/11/gavin-newsom-california-scramble-fallen-apart-456665|title='It's all fallen apart': Newsom scrambles to save California – and his career|first1=David|last1=Siders|first2=Carla|last2=Marinucci|work=Politico|date=January 11, 2021|access-date=February 5, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111105750/https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/11/gavin-newsom-california-scramble-fallen-apart-456665|archive-date=January 11, 2021 |ref=none}}
• {{cite magazine|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/161212/gavin-newsom-covid-california-recall|title=Gavin Newsom Is Blowing It|first=James|last=Pogue|magazine=The New Republic|date=February 3, 2021|access-date=February 5, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205151348/https://newrepublic.com/article/161212/gavin-newsom-covid-california-recall|archive-date=February 5, 2021 |ref=none}} voter anger over lockdowns, job losses, school and business closures;{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/explainer-california-gov-newsom-facing-recall-76517979|title=EXPLAINER: Why is California Gov. Newsom facing a recall?|work=ABC News|first=Michael R.|last=Blood|date=March 17, 2021|access-date=September 16, 2021|archive-date=May 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521075334/https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/explainer-california-gov-newsom-facing-recall-76517979|url-status=live}} and a $31 billion fraud scandal at the state unemployment agency{{cite news|url=https://calmatters.org/projects/newsom-recall-edd-voters/|title=How much will California's EDD scandal cost Newsom in the recall election?|website=CalMatters|first=Emily|last=Hoeven|date=August 4, 2021|access-date=September 16, 2021|archive-date=September 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910215334/https://calmatters.org/projects/newsom-recall-edd-voters/|url-status=live}} were credited for the recall's growing support. The French Laundry event took place on November 6,{{cite news|url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/05/gavin-newsom-california-governor-recall-caitlyn-jenner.html|title=Are Californians Still Mad at Gavin Newsom?|date=May 3, 2021|work=Slate Magazine|first=Mary|last=Harris|access-date=September 16, 2021|archive-date=May 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210531030043/https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/05/gavin-newsom-california-governor-recall-caitlyn-jenner.html|url-status=live}} and between November 5 and December 7 over 442,000 new signatures were submitted and verified; 1,664,010 verified signatures, representing roughly 98% of the final total of 1,719,900, were submitted between November 2020 and March 17, 2021.{{cite news |url=https://www.abc10.com/article/news/politics/43-signatures-removed-california-governor-recall-petition/103-34d4f3e9-cca9-473b-8d09-74fce123a92b |title=Newsom Recall is a Go After Only 43 People Remove Their Signatures from Effort |last=Nuttle |first=Matthew |date=June 23, 2021 |work=ABC |access-date=September 22, 2021 |archive-date=October 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001081116/https://www.abc10.com/article/news/politics/43-signatures-removed-california-governor-recall-petition/103-34d4f3e9-cca9-473b-8d09-74fce123a92b |url-status=live }}

During the campaign, Newsom compared the recall effort to the attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election.{{cite news |last1=Ronayne |first1=Kathleen |last2=Blood |first2=Michael R. |title=California Gov. Gavin Newsom beats back GOP-led recall |url=https://apnews.com/article/california-recall-results-gavin-newsom-a590782877be099d44f1766b2d138394 |access-date=September 19, 2021 |work=Associated Press |date=September 15, 2021 |location=Sacramento |archive-date=September 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210919012132/https://apnews.com/article/california-recall-results-gavin-newsom-a590782877be099d44f1766b2d138394 |url-status=live }} On September 14, 2021, the recall election was held, and only 38% voted to recall Newsom, so he remained in office.{{cite web | title=California Gov. Gavin Newsom stays in power as recall fails | website=AP NEWS | date=September 14, 2021 | url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-california-climate-elections-a590782877be099d44f1766b2d138394 | access-date=September 15, 2021 | archive-date=September 15, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915012325/https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-california-climate-elections-a590782877be099d44f1766b2d138394 | url-status=live }}{{cite web | last=Bernstein | first=Sharon | title=TV networks | website=Reuters | date=September 15, 2021 | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/californians-decide-governors-fate-republican-backed-recall-2021-09-14/ | access-date=September 15, 2021 | archive-date=September 14, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914222816/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/californians-decide-governors-fate-republican-backed-recall-2021-09-14/ | url-status=live }}

{{Main article|2022 California gubernatorial election}}

In 2022, Newsom was elected to a second term, defeating Republican state senator Brian Dahle with 59.2% of the vote. This was a smaller margin of victory than in 2018, and the first time since 2010 that the Democratic gubernatorial nominee did not win at least 60% of the vote.{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/08/gavin-newsom-reelection-00065814|title=Gavin Newsom easily wins reelection in California a year after recall|work=Politico|first=Lara|last=Korte|date=November 8, 2022|access-date=November 12, 2022}}

A CalMatters analysis published in 2019 found Newsom's political positions to be more moderate than those of almost every Democratic state legislator in California.{{Cite news|url = https://calmatters.org/politics/2019/10/gavin-newsom-moderate-governor-california-political-spectrum/|title = Gov. Newsom the moderate? On this spectrum, almost every Democratic legislator is further left|newspaper = Calmatters|date = October 22, 2019|last = Christopher|first = Ben|access-date = December 3, 2021|archive-date = December 3, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211203231446/https://calmatters.org/politics/2019/10/gavin-newsom-moderate-governor-california-political-spectrum/|url-status = live | quote=Based on an analysis of the 1,042 bills that the governor signed or vetoed this year, Gavin Newsom is more moderate than any other Democratic state senator and sits to the left of only two Democrats in the Assembly. }}

After U.S. senator Kamala Harris was elected vice president of the United States in the 2020 presidential election, Newsom appointed Secretary of State of California Alex Padilla to succeed her as California's junior U.S. senator. To replace Padilla as secretary of state, Newsom appointed Assemblywoman Shirley Weber.{{cite web|date=December 22, 2020|title=Newsom names Assemblywoman Shirley Weber to succeed Padilla as California secretary of state|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-22/assemblywoman-shirley-weber-california-secretary-of-state-padilla-senate-appointment|access-date=March 16, 2021|website=Los Angeles Times|first1=John|last1=Myers|first2=Taryn|last2=Luna|archive-date=March 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319085505/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-22/assemblywoman-shirley-weber-california-secretary-of-state-padilla-senate-appointment|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Harris bursts through another barrier, becoming the first female, first Black and first South Asian vice president-elect|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/07/politics/kamala-harris-first-vice-president-female-black-south-asian/index.html|access-date=December 20, 2020|website=CNN|date=November 7, 2020 |publisher=Cable News Network|archive-date=December 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224175113/https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/07/politics/kamala-harris-first-vice-president-female-black-south-asian/index.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Hubler|first=Shawn|date=December 22, 2020|title=Alex Padilla Will Replace Kamala Harris in the Senate|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/22/us/politics/alex-padilla-kamala-california-senate.html|access-date=December 22, 2020|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=December 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222180217/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/22/us/politics/alex-padilla-kamala-california-senate.html|url-status=live}} After the U.S. Senate confirmed Xavier Becerra as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Newsom appointed Rob Bonta Attorney General of California.{{cite web|last=White|first=Jeremy B.|title=Newsom will wait to announce California AG until Becerra confirmed|url=https://politi.co/3trBYkj|access-date=March 16, 2021|website=Politico PRO|date=February 3, 2021 |archive-date=July 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713045512/https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2021/02/03/newsom-will-wait-to-announce-california-ag-until-becerra-confirmed-9425333|url-status=live}} In an interview with Joy Reid, Newsom was asked whether he would appoint a Black woman to replace Dianne Feinstein if she were to retire from the Senate or die before her term ended in 2024; Newsom replied that he would.{{cite news|first=Chris|last=Cillizza|title=Analysis: Gavin Newsom just tried to shove Dianne Feinstein out the door|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/16/politics/gavin-newsom-dianne-feinstein-senate/index.html|access-date=March 16, 2021|website=CNN|date=March 16, 2021 |archive-date=March 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316164743/https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/16/politics/gavin-newsom-dianne-feinstein-senate/index.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Gavin Newsom vows to name Black woman to Senate if Dianne Feinstein steps down|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gavin-newsom-dianne-feinstein-california/|access-date=March 16, 2021|work=CBS News|first=Melissa|last=Quinn|date=March 16, 2021|archive-date=March 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316124743/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gavin-newsom-dianne-feinstein-california/|url-status=live}} Feinstein died in September 2023, and Newsom faced pressure to quickly appoint a successor.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/09/29/us/dianne-feinstein-dead-senate|title=The senator was hailed as a pioneer in politics. Here's what to know.|first1=Annie|last1=Karni|first2=Shawn|last2=Hubler|work=The New York Times |date=September 29, 2023|via=NYTimes.com}} He fulfilled his promise and appointed Laphonza Butler to the seat.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-01 |first1=Adam |last1=Edelman |first2=Amanda |last2=Terkel |title=Gov. Gavin Newsom chooses Laphonza Butler to fill Dianne Feinstein's Senate seat |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/gavin-newsom-laphonza-butler-fill-dianne-feinstein-senate-seat-rcna118052 |website=NBC News |language=en}}

{{see also|Capital punishment in California}}

On March 13, 2019, three years after voters narrowly rejected its repeal,{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/03/12/702873258/gov-gavin-newsom-suspends-death-penalty-in-california|title=Gov. Gavin Newsom Suspends Death Penalty in California|work=NPR News|first1=Scott|last1=Shafer|first2=Marisa|last2=Lagos|date=March 12, 2019|access-date=September 19, 2021|archive-date=September 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902223802/https://www.npr.org/2019/03/12/702873258/gov-gavin-newsom-suspends-death-penalty-in-california|url-status=live}} Newsom declared a moratorium on the state's death penalty, preventing any execution in the state as long as he remained governor. The move also led to the withdrawal of the state's current lethal injection protocol and the execution chamber's closure at San Quentin State Prison.{{cite news|url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article227489844.html|title='Ineffective, irreversible and immoral:' Gavin Newsom halts death penalty for 737 inmates|last=Bollag|first=Sophia|work=Sacramento Bee|access-date=March 13, 2019|archive-date=December 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210104925/https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article227489844.html|url-status=live}} In a CBS This Morning interview, Newsom said that the death penalty is "a racist system{{nbsp}}... that is perpetuating inequality. It's a system that I cannot in good conscience support."{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gavin-newsom-death-penalty-its-a-racist-system-california-governor-says/|title=California governor on halting executions: "It's a racist system. You cannot deny that."|work=CBS News|access-date=March 15, 2019|archive-date=March 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190316012306/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gavin-newsom-death-penalty-its-a-racist-system-california-governor-says/|url-status=live}} The moratorium granted a temporary reprieve for all 737 inmates on California's death row, then the largest death row in the Western Hemisphere.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/12/us/california-death-penalty.html|title=California Death Penalty Suspended; 737 Inmates Get Stay of Execution|last=Arango|first=Tim|date=March 12, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 4, 2019|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=April 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403180226/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/12/us/california-death-penalty.html|url-status=live}}

In January 2022, Newsom directed the state to begin dismantling its death row in San Quentin, to be transformed into a "space for rehabilitation programs", as all the condemned inmates are moving to other prisons that have maximum security facilities. The state's voters upheld capital punishment in 2012 and 2016, with the latter measure agreeing to move the condemned to other prisons.{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/california-death-row-closed-prisons-gavin-newsom-d59ae606239abadb2dfa03be71e54649|title=California moves to dismantle nation's largest death row|work=Associated Press|first=Don|last=Thompson|date=January 31, 2022|access-date=February 8, 2022|archive-date=February 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208050645/https://apnews.com/article/california-death-row-closed-prisons-gavin-newsom-d59ae606239abadb2dfa03be71e54649|url-status=live}} While a 2021 poll by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies and co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times suggested declining support for capital punishment among California's voters,{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-05-20/gavin-newsom-death-penalty-opposition-new-california-poll|title = Support for the death penalty is declining in California, poll shows|website = Los Angeles Times|date = May 20, 2021}} Republican opponents criticized Newsom's moves to halt capital punishment in California as defiance of the will of voters, and capital punishment advocates said they denied closure to murder victims' families.{{Cite news|url=https://calmatters.org/politics/2022/02/california-death-penalty-end/|title=Is this another way to end California's death penalty?|newspaper=Calmatters|date=February 9, 2022|last1=Koseff|first1=Alexei}}

In response to the Trump administration's crackdown on immigrants with criminal records, Newsom gave heightened consideration to people in this situation.{{r|LAT 2019-08-22}} A pardon can eliminate the grounds for deportation of immigrants who would otherwise be legal permanent residents. Pardon requests from people facing deportation are given expedited review by the state Board of Parole Hearings, per a 2018 California law.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-08-22/gavin-newsom-pardons-deportation-threat-trump-liyah-birru|title=She faces deportation after shooting her husband. Now, Gov. Newsom could pardon her|last=Willon|first=Phil|date=August 23, 2019|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=August 23, 2019|archive-date=August 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823135847/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-08-22/gavin-newsom-pardons-deportation-threat-trump-liyah-birru|url-status=live}} In his first acts of clemency as governor, Newsom pardoned seven formerly incarcerated people in May 2019, including two Cambodian refugees facing deportation.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-gavin-newsom-pardon-immigrant-trump-20190513-story.html|title=In a rebuke to President Trump, Gov. Newsom pardons refugees facing deportation|last1=Willon|first1=Phil|last2=Chabria|first2=Anita|date=May 13, 2019|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=May 14, 2019|archive-date=May 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514011645/https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-gavin-newsom-pardon-immigrant-trump-20190513-story.html|url-status=live}} He pardoned three men who were attempting to avoid being deported to Cambodia or Vietnam in November 2019. They had separately committed crimes when they were each 19 years old.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-11-15/california-governor-gavin-newsom-pardons-to-block-deportations|title=California Gov. Gavin Newsom pardons 3 in bid to block deportations|date=November 16, 2019|agency=Associated Press|via=Los Angeles Times|access-date=November 16, 2019|archive-date=November 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116041802/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-11-15/california-governor-gavin-newsom-pardons-to-block-deportations|url-status=live}} In December 2019, Newsom granted parole to a Cambodian refugee who had been held in a California prison due to a murder case. Although immigrant rights groups wanted Newsom to end policies allowing the transfer to federal agents, the refugee was turned over for possible deportation upon release.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-12-23/newsom-paroles-immigrant-who-is-immediately-detained-by-ice|title=Newsom paroles immigrant, who is immediately detained by ICE|agency=Associated Press|date=December 23, 2019|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=December 24, 2019|archive-date=December 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224000827/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-12-23/newsom-paroles-immigrant-who-is-immediately-detained-by-ice|url-status=live}}

On January 13, 2022, Newsom denied parole to Sirhan Sirhan, Robert F. Kennedy's assassin, who had been recommended for parole by a parole board after serving 53 years in prison.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/13/us/sirhan-sirhan-newsom-denies-parole/index.html|title=California Gov. Gavin Newsom denies parole for RFK assassin Sirhan Sirhan|first1=Jake|last1=Tapper|author-link1=Jake Tapper|first2=Cheri|last2=Mossburg|publisher=CNN|date=January 13, 2022|access-date=January 14, 2022|archive-date=January 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114022521/https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/13/us/sirhan-sirhan-newsom-denies-parole/index.html|url-status=live}} Newsom wrote an op-ed for the Los Angeles Times saying Sirhan "still lacks the insight that would prevent him from making the kind of dangerous and destructive decisions he made in the past. The most glaring proof of Sirhan's deficient insight is his shifting narrative about his assassination of Kennedy, and his current refusal to accept responsibility for it."{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/01/13/sirhan-parole-denied/|title=Calif. Gov. Newsom denies parole for Sirhan Sirhan, convicted of Robert F. Kennedy assassination|first=Tom|last=Jackman|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 13, 2022|access-date=January 15, 2022|archive-date=January 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114172852/https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/01/13/sirhan-parole-denied/|url-status=live}}

Newsom has spoken in favor of Assembly Bill 1196, which would ban carotid artery restraints and choke holds in California. He has claimed that there is no longer a place for a policing tactic "that literally is designed to stop people's blood from flowing into their brain, that has no place any longer in 21st-century practices."{{cite web |url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article245124265.html |title=Will Gavin Newsom Sign New Police Laws After George Floyd Protests? Here are His Options |last=Wiley |first=Hannah |date=September 3, 2020 |website=The Sacramento Bee |access-date=September 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915173931/https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article245124265.html |archive-date=September 15, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://abc7.com/governor-press-conference-today-time-newsom-george-floyd-black-lives-matter-phase-3/6233485/|title=Gavin Newsom directs California police officers to stop training use of carotid hold|work=ABC 7|first=Alix|last=Martichoux|date=June 5, 2020|access-date=September 18, 2021|archive-date=September 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901165937/https://abc7.com/governor-press-conference-today-time-newsom-george-floyd-black-lives-matter-phase-3/6233485/|url-status=live}}

In September 2021, Newsom signed legislation raising the minimum age to become a police officer from 18 to 21. Also in the bills were restrictions on the use of tear gas and a ban on police departments employing officers after misconduct or crimes. Among the bills was the George Floyd Bill, requiring officers to intervene when witnessing excessive force on the part of another officer.{{Cite web |last=Lethang |first=Marlene |date=October 1, 2021 |title=California Gov. Newsom signs sweeping police reform bills, will strip badges from officers for misconduct |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/california-gov-newsom-signs-sweeping-police-reform-bills/story?id=80349484 |access-date=July 12, 2022 |website=ABC News }}

In September 2020, Newsom signed into law a bill allowing California transgender inmates to be placed in prisons that correspond with their gender identity. An inmate's request can be denied based on "management or security concerns".{{cite news|last=Colton|first=Emma|date=September 27, 2020|title=Newsom signs law allowing transgender inmates to be placed in prisons according to gender identity|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/newsom-signs-law-allowing-transgender-inmates-to-be-placed-in-prisons-according-to-gender-identity|access-date=September 27, 2020|work=Washington Examiner|archive-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929204328/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/newsom-signs-law-allowing-transgender-inmates-to-be-placed-in-prisons-according-to-gender-identity|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Beam|first=Adam|date=September 26, 2020|title=Gov. Newsom signs law requiring California prisons to house transgender inmates by gender identity|url=https://abc7news.com/6586846/|access-date=September 27, 2020|work=ABC7 San Francisco|archive-date=October 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001082416/https://abc7news.com/6586846/|url-status=live}} In response, the Women's Liberation Front filed a lawsuit claiming that the bill is "unconstitutional and creates an unsafe environment for women in female facilities".{{Cite news |last=Martinez |first=Christian |date=November 24, 2021 |title=Suit takes aim at law that lets transgender inmates choose housing based on gender identity |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-11-24/lawsuit-takes-aim-at-law-that-allows-transgender-inmates-to-choose-housing-location-based-on-gender-identity |access-date=September 17, 2024 |work=Los Angeles Times}}

{{broader|COVID-19 pandemic in California}}

File:Gavin Newsom meets with scientists and physicians 01.jpg

Newsom declared a state of emergency on March 4, 2020, after the first death in California attributable to the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus disease (COVID-19).{{cite news|date=March 4, 2020|access-date=March 4, 2020|title=Gov. Newsom declares state of emergency due to coronavirus|work=KCRA|url=https://www.kcra.com/article/california-newsom-declares-state-of-emergency-due-to-coronavirus/31231293|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305075530/https://www.kcra.com/article/california-newsom-declares-state-of-emergency-due-to-coronavirus/31231293|archive-date=March 5, 2020|url-status=live}}{{Cite press release|date=March 4, 2020|title=Governor Newsom Declares State of Emergency to Help State Prepare for Broader Spread of COVID-19|url=https://www.gov.ca.gov/2020/03/04/governor-newsom-declares-state-of-emergency-to-help-state-prepare-for-broader-spread-of-covid-19/|agency=California Office of the Governor|access-date=March 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309150057/https://www.gov.ca.gov/2020/03/04/governor-newsom-declares-state-of-emergency-to-help-state-prepare-for-broader-spread-of-covid-19/|archive-date=March 9, 2020|url-status=live}} His stated intention was to help California prepare for and contain COVID-19's spread.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-03-04/los-angeles-county-declares-coronavirus-emergency-6-new-cases|title=Grand Princess cruise ship at center of coronavirus fight amid concerns about spread|date=March 4, 2020|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=March 12, 2020|archive-date=March 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309091332/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-03-04/los-angeles-county-declares-coronavirus-emergency-6-new-cases|url-status=live}} The emergency declaration allowed state agencies to more easily procure equipment and services, share information on patients and alleviated restrictions on the use of state-owned properties and facilities. Newsom also announced that mitigation policies for the state's estimated 108,000 unsheltered homeless people would be prioritized, with a significant push to move them indoors.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/homeless-housing/story/2020-03-15/coronavirus-homeless-infection-prevention-fear-policy|title=An unexpected side effect of the coronavirus? A new urgency about helping homeless people|last1=Curwen|first1=Thomas|last2=Oreskes|first2=Benjamin|last3=Chabria|first3=Anita Chabria|date=March 15, 2020|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=March 17, 2020|archive-date=March 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200316152252/https://www.latimes.com/homeless-housing/story/2020-03-15/coronavirus-homeless-infection-prevention-fear-policy|url-status=live}}

Newsom issued an executive order that allowed the state to commandeer hotels and medical facilities to treat COVID-19 patients and permitted government officials to hold teleconferences in private without violating open meeting laws.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-03-12/california-governor-gavin-newsom-hotels-medical-facilities-patients-meeting-requirements|title=Newsom issues order allowing California to take over hotels for coronavirus patients|last=Luna|first=Taryn|date=March 12, 2020|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=March 14, 2020|archive-date=March 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200316074804/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-03-12/california-governor-gavin-newsom-hotels-medical-facilities-patients-meeting-requirements|url-status=live}} He also directed local school districts to make their own decisions on school closures, but used an executive order to ensure students' needs would be met whether or not their school was physically open. The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the Newsom administration's request to offer meal service during school closures, which included families being able to pick up those meals at libraries, parks, or other off-campus locations. Roughly 80% of students at California's public schools receive free or reduced-price meals. This executive order included continued funding for remote learning opportunities and child care options during workday hours.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-03-13/california-schools-closure-state-help-coronavirus-gavin-newsom|title=Newsom orders more aid to California campuses shuttered by coronavirus, opting not to close schools statewide|last1=Willon|first1=Phil|last2=Myers|first2=John|date=March 14, 2020|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=March 15, 2020|archive-date=March 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314224250/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-03-13/california-schools-closure-state-help-coronavirus-gavin-newsom|url-status=live}}

As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state continued to rise, on March 15, Newsom urged people 65 and older and those with chronic health conditions to isolate themselves from others. He also called on bars and brewery and winery tasting rooms to close their doors to patrons. Some local jurisdictions had mandatory closures.{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-03-16/coronavirus-newsom-bar-closures-seniors-medical-conditions-self-isolate |title=Coronavirus cases spike to 94 in L.A. County as officials issue more emergency restrictions |author=Phil Willon |author2=Alex Wigglesworth |author3=Taryn Luna |author4=Laura Newberry |author5=Colleen Shalby |date=March 16, 2020 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=March 17, 2020 |archive-date=March 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317021439/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-03-16/coronavirus-newsom-bar-closures-seniors-medical-conditions-self-isolate |url-status=live }} The closures were extended to movie theaters and health clubs. He asked restaurants to stop serving meals inside their establishments and offer take-out meals only.{{cite news|last1=Chance|first1=Amy|url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article241255606.html|title=No gatherings, restaurant meals in California now, Gavin Newsom directs|date=March 16, 2020|work=The Sacramento Bee|access-date=March 17, 2020|last2=Kasler|first2=Dale|archive-date=March 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317094256/https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article241255606.html|url-status=live}} His statewide order to stay at home became mandatory on March 19. It allowed movement outside the home for necessities or recreation, but people were required to maintain a safe distance apart.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-03-21/california-statewide-stay-at-home-coronavirus-rules-stricter-local-orders|title='Time to wake up,' Newsom says, again urging Californians to stay home in coronavirus fight|last1=Willon|first1=Phil|last2=Luna|first2=Taryn|date=March 21, 2020|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=March 22, 2020|last3=Fry|first3=Hannah|archive-date=March 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321225624/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-03-21/california-statewide-stay-at-home-coronavirus-rules-stricter-local-orders|url-status=live}} Activity "needed to maintain continuity of operation of the federal critical infrastructure sectors, critical government services, schools, childcare, and construction" was excluded from the order. Essential services such as grocery stores and pharmacies remained open. Newsom provided state funds to pay for protective measures such as hotel room lodging for hospital and other essential workers fearing returning home and infecting family members.{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-04-09/gavin-newsom-california-ventilators-hospitals-counties-coronavirus |title=Newsom assures Californians that the state has enough ventilators in coronavirus fight|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|first=Phil|last=Willon |access-date=April 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412173421/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-04-09/gavin-newsom-california-ventilators-hospitals-counties-coronavirus |archive-date=April 12, 2020 |url-status=live }} By April 26, he had issued 30 executive orders under the state of emergency while the legislature had not been in session.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-04-27/gavin-newsom-coronavirus-executive-power-california-legislature|title=Column: In the coronavirus crisis, California isn't under one-party rule, it's under one-man rule|last=Skelton|first=George|date=April 27, 2020|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=April 27, 2020|archive-date=April 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200427132649/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-04-27/gavin-newsom-coronavirus-executive-power-california-legislature|url-status=live}}

On April 28, Newsom, along with the governors of Oregon and Washington, announced a "shared approach" for reopening their economies.{{cite news|url=https://www.seattleweekly.com/northwest/washington-oregon-and-california-announce-western-states-pact/|title=Washington, Oregon and California announce Western states pact|date=April 13, 2020|work=Seattle Weekly|access-date=April 29, 2020|archive-date=June 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604025955/https://www.seattleweekly.com/northwest/washington-oregon-and-california-announce-western-states-pact/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://q13fox.com/2020/04/13/washington-oregon-california-announce-coronavirus-pact/|title=Washington, Oregon, California announce coronavirus pact|date=April 13, 2020|work=Q13 FOX News|access-date=April 13, 2020|archive-date=April 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414190757/https://q13fox.com/2020/04/13/washington-oregon-california-announce-coronavirus-pact/|url-status=live}} His administration outlined key indicators for altering his stay-at-home mandate, including the ability to closely monitor and track potential cases, prevent infection of high-risk people, increase surge capacity at hospitals, develop therapeutics, ensure physical distancing at schools, businesses, and child-care facilities, and develop guidelines for restoring isolation orders if the virus surges.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-04-19/california-will-do-right-thing-coronavirus-orders-newsom|title=California will 'do the right thing' when lifting stay-at-home orders, Newsom says|last1=McGreevy|first1=Patrick|last2=Wigglesworth|first2=Alex|date=April 19, 2020|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=April 19, 2020|archive-date=April 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200419190357/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-04-19/california-will-do-right-thing-coronavirus-orders-newsom|url-status=live}} The plan to end the shutdown had four phases.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-04-28/reopen-california-businesses-gavin-newsom-phases-stay-home-order-coronavirus|title=Some California businesses could reopen within weeks as state fights coronavirus, Newsom says|last=Myers|first=John|date=April 28, 2020|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=April 28, 2020|archive-date=April 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428195530/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-04-28/reopen-california-businesses-gavin-newsom-phases-stay-home-order-coronavirus|url-status=live}} Newsom emphasized that easing restrictions would be based on data, not dates, saying, "We will base reopening plans on facts and data, not on ideology. Not what we want. Not what we hope."{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/28/politics/california-phased-reopening-plan/index.html|title=California governor outlines state's phased reopening plan|last1=Mossburg|first1=Cheri|last2=Cole|first2=Devan|date=April 28, 2020|website=CNN|access-date=April 29, 2020|archive-date=April 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429002450/https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/28/politics/california-phased-reopening-plan/index.html|url-status=live}} Of a return of Major League Baseball and the NFL, he said, "I would move very cautiously in that expectation."{{cite news|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/coronavirus-will-fans-pack-nfl-stadiums-for-week-1-dont-count-on-it-gov-newsom-says|title=Coronavirus: Will fans pack NFL stadiums for week 1? Don't count on it, Gov. Newsom says|last=Savidge|first=Nico|date=April 4, 2020|work=The Mercury News|access-date=April 4, 2020|archive-date=July 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713045507/https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/04/04/coronavirus-will-fans-pack-nfl-stadiums-for-week-1-dont-count-on-it-gov-newsom-says/|url-status=live}}

In early May, Newsom announced that certain retailers could reopen for pickup. Most Californians approved of Newsom's handling of the crisis and were more concerned about reopening too early than too late, but there were demonstrations and protests against these policies.{{cite web|title=Gov. Gavin Newsom says reopening California will begin this week|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-05-04/california-reopening-coronavirus-gavin-newsom-phases-begin-retail-pickup|last=Luna|first=Tarlyn|date=May 4, 2020|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=May 4, 2020|archive-date=May 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200504201307/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-05-04/california-reopening-coronavirus-gavin-newsom-phases-begin-retail-pickup|url-status=live}} Under pressure, Newsom delegated more decision-making on reopening to the local level.{{cite web|last=Lopez|first=German|date=July 6, 2020|title=How California went from a coronavirus success story to a worrying new hot spot|url=https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2020/7/6/21308351/california-coronavirus-pandemic-covid-outbreak|access-date=July 7, 2020|website=Vox|archive-date=July 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706150203/https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2020/7/6/21308351/california-coronavirus-pandemic-covid-outbreak|url-status=live}} That same month, he announced a plan for registered voters to have the option to vote by mail in the November election.{{cite news|title=All California voters to receive mail-in ballot for November election, but in-person voting will remain|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/08/politics/california-mail-in-voting/index.html|last1=Mossburg|first1=Cheri|date=May 8, 2020|first2=Caroline|last2=Kelly|work=CNN|access-date=May 9, 2020|archive-date=May 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200509021143/https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/08/politics/california-mail-in-voting/index.html|url-status=live}} California was the first state in the country to commit to sending mail-in ballots to all registered voters for the November general election.{{cite news|date=May 26, 2020|title=Three Republican groups sue California governor over mail-in-vote order|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-california-republicans-idUSKBN2310OF|access-date=May 27, 2020|archive-date=May 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200526155041/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-california-republicans-idUSKBN2310OF|url-status=live}}

As the state opened up, the Los Angeles Times found that new coronavirus hospitalizations in California began accelerating around June 15 at a rate not seen since early April, immediately after the virus began rapidly spreading in the state.{{r|LAT 2020-07-14}} On June 18, Newsom made face coverings mandatory for all Californians in an effort to reduce COVID-19's spread.{{cite news|last=Bollag|first=Sophia|date=June 18, 2020|title=Gavin Newsom issues statewide mask order: Californians must wear face coverings in public|work=Sacramento Bee|url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article243634487.html|access-date=June 28, 2020|archive-date=June 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621173732/https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article243634487.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|date=June 18, 2020|title=Face coverings required in public spaces|work=Official California State Government Website|url=https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/COVID-19/Guidance-for-Face-Coverings_06-18-2020.pdf|access-date=June 19, 2020|archive-date=June 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618221034/https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/COVID-19/Guidance-for-Face-Coverings_06-18-2020.pdf|url-status=live}} Enforcement would be up to business owners, as local law enforcement agencies view non-compliance as a minor infraction.{{cite news|date=June 19, 2020|title=California county sheriff says he won't enforce Newsom's coronavirus mask order.|work=FoxNews|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/california-county-sheriff-says-he-wont-enforce-newsoms-coronavirus-mask-order|access-date=June 19, 2020|archive-date=June 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200619234705/https://www.foxnews.com/us/california-county-sheriff-says-he-wont-enforce-newsoms-coronavirus-mask-order|url-status=live}} By the end of June, he had ordered seven counties to close bars and nightspots, and recommended eight other counties take action on their own to close those businesses due to a surge of coronavirus cases in some parts of the state.{{cite news|last1=Myers|first1=John|last2=Wigglesworth|first2=Alex|last3=Newberry|first3=Laura|last4=Holland|first4=Gale|date=June 28, 2020|title=Newsom orders bars closed in 7 California counties including L.A. due to coronavirus spread|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-06-28/gavin-newsom-orders-bars-closed-in-7-california-counties-due-to-coronavirus-spread|access-date=June 29, 2020|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|archive-date=June 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629003423/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-06-28/gavin-newsom-orders-bars-closed-in-7-california-counties-due-to-coronavirus-spread|url-status=live}} In a regular press conference on July 13 as he was ordering the reinstatement of the shutdown of bars and indoor dining in restaurants, he said, "We're seeing an increase in the spread of the virus, so that's why it's incumbent upon all of us to recognize soberly that COVID-19 is not going away any time soon until there is a vaccine or an effective therapy".{{cite news|last1=Lin|first1=Rong-Gong II|last2=Blume|first2=Howard|last3=Gutierrez|first3=Melody|last4=Fry|first4=Hannah|last5=Dolan|first5=Maura|date=July 14, 2020|title=How California went from a rapid reopening to a second closing in one month|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-07-14/california-reopening-shutdown-coronavirus-spike|access-date=July 15, 2020|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|archive-date=July 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714202842/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-07-14/california-reopening-shutdown-coronavirus-spike|url-status=live}}

Newsom oversaw a sluggish initial rollout of vaccines; California had one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country by January 2021,{{cite news|date=2021|title=COVID vaccine rollout: Latest numbers, updates for California and the Sacramento area|work=The Sacramento Bee|url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/coronavirus/article248602425.html|access-date=January 20, 2021|archive-date=January 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121033224/https://www.sacbee.com/news/coronavirus/article248602425.html|url-status=live}} and had only used about 30% of the vaccines it had at its disposal, a far lower rate than other states, by January 20.{{cite web|title=Vaccine Chaos: Californians Scramble For Shots Amid Mixed Messaging|url=https://www.kpbs.org/news/2021/jan/20/vaccine-chaos-californians-shots-mixed-messaging/|access-date=January 20, 2021|website=KPBS Public Media|date=January 20, 2021|archive-date=February 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204134154/https://www.kpbs.org/news/2021/jan/20/vaccine-chaos-californians-shots-mixed-messaging/|url-status=live}} Newsom had an approval rating of 64% in September 2020, but a February 2021 UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll found that his approval rate was down to 46%, with 48% disapproval, the highest of his tenure. The Los Angeles Times attributed this decline to public opinion of his management of the pandemic.{{cite web|date=February 2, 2021|title=Newsom approval plummeting with a third of voters support recall amid COVID-19 criticism, poll finds|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-02-02/californians-open-to-recall-election-gavin-newsom-job-performance-berkeley-poll-covid-19|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202233840/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-02-02/californians-open-to-recall-election-gavin-newsom-job-performance-berkeley-poll-covid-19|archive-date=February 2, 2021|access-date=February 3, 2021|website=Los Angeles Times}} The vaccination rate began increasing in January, with over half the population fully vaccinated as of September 2021,{{cite web|date=September 11, 2021|title=States ranked by percentage of population fully vaccinated: Sept. 10|url=https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/public-health/states-ranked-by-percentage-of-population-vaccinated-march-15.html|access-date=September 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911033438/https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/public-health/states-ranked-by-percentage-of-population-vaccinated-march-15.html|archive-date=September 11, 2021}} the percentage ranking #16 out of the 50 states.

Although the Newsom administration enacted some of the country's most stringent pandemic restrictions in 2020, California had the 29th-highest death rate of all 50 states by May 2021.{{Cite news |last=Procter |first=Richard |date=2021-03-04 |title=Remember when? Timeline marks key events in California's year-long pandemic grind |url=https://calmatters.org/health/coronavirus/2021/03/timeline-california-pandemic-year-key-points/ |access-date=2024-08-21 |work=CalMatters |language=en-US}} Monica Gandhi, a professor of medicine at UCSF, said that California's restrictive approach "did not lead to better health outcomes", and criticized California's delay in implementing new CDC recommendations absolving the fully vaccinated from most indoor mask requirements, while saying the decision lacked scientific rationale and could cause "collateral damage".{{cite news|url = https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/2021-05-California-mask-mandate-CDC-vaccinated-new-16177861.php|title = UCSF expert: California, San Francisco should 'immediately' lift mask mandates for vaccinated| newspaper=Sfgate |date = May 14, 2021|access-date = May 17, 2021|archive-date = May 17, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210517193602/https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/2021-05-California-mask-mandate-CDC-vaccinated-new-16177861.php|url-status = live | last1=Ting | first1=Eric }}{{cite web|url = https://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/2021/05/07/california-focus-florida-or-california-which-handles-covid-better/|title = California Focus: Florida or California: Which handles covid better?|date = May 7, 2021|access-date = May 17, 2021|archive-date = May 17, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210517233422/https://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/2021/05/07/california-focus-florida-or-california-which-handles-covid-better/amp/|url-status = live}}

In January 2021, the Los Angeles Times reported that Newsom's administration had mismanaged $11.4 billion by disbursing unemployment benefits to ineligible claimants, especially those paid through the federally funded Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program.{{Cite news|url=https://calmatters.org/economy/2020/12/who-will-pay-for-all-of-californias-unemployment-fraud/|title=Who will pay for all of California's unemployment fraud?|work=CalMatters|first1=Lauren|last1=Hepler|first2=Stephen|last2=Council|date=December 22, 2020|access-date=September 18, 2021|archive-date=September 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916014735/https://calmatters.org/economy/2020/12/who-will-pay-for-all-of-californias-unemployment-fraud/|url-status=live}} Another $19 billion in claims remained under investigation for fraud.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-01-25/california-unemployment-fraud-11-billion-investigations|title=California officials say unemployment fraud now totals more than $11 billion|work=Los Angeles Times|first=Patrick|last=McGreevy|date=January 25, 2021|access-date=September 18, 2021|archive-date=September 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918114702/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-01-25/california-unemployment-fraud-11-billion-investigations|url-status=live}} At the same time, legitimate claimants faced lengthy delays in receiving benefits.{{cite web|url = https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2021-02-11/editorial-julie-su-and-californias-unemployment-insurance-meltdown|title = Editorial: California's unemployment system collapsed on Julie Su's watch|website = Los Angeles Times|date = February 11, 2021|access-date = February 12, 2021|archive-date = February 11, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210211173739/https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2021-02-11/editorial-julie-su-and-californias-unemployment-insurance-meltdown?_amp=true|url-status = live}} The state's unemployment system had been overseen by California Labor Secretary Julie Su, a Newsom appointee, whom President Joe Biden later appointed as deputy secretary of labor in February 2021.

Political opponents attributed the crisis to the Newsom administration's failure to heed multiple warnings by federal officials of the potential for fraud, while Newsom's administration said the Trump administration's failure to provide appropriate guidance for the new federally funded program contributed to the fraud.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2021-02-05/california-house-republicans-hit-newsom-over-fraudulent-unemployment-claims|title=House Republicans from California demand Gov. Newsom answer for unemployment failings|website=Los Angeles Times|date=February 5, 2021|access-date=February 12, 2021|archive-date=February 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212005737/https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2021-02-05/california-house-republicans-hit-newsom-over-fraudulent-unemployment-claims?_amp=true|url-status=live}} Experts said much of the fraud appeared to originate from international criminal gangs in 20 countries.{{cite news|last1=McGreevy|first1=Patrick|last2=Chabria|first2=Anita|last3=Winton|first3=Richard|date=December 4, 2020|title=California may have sent $1 billion in jobless benefits to people outside the state, D.A.s warn|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-04/california-unemployment-benefits-out-of-state-district-attorney|access-date=December 4, 2020|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|archive-date=December 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205202107/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-04/california-unemployment-benefits-out-of-state-district-attorney|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=McGreevy |first=Patrick |date=December 7, 2020|title=California unemployment fraud amid COVID-19 pandemic may total $2 billion, Bank of America says|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-07/bank-of-america-estimate-2-billion-california-unemployment-fraud|access-date=December 16, 2020|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|archive-date=December 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201216013532/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-07/bank-of-america-estimate-2-billion-california-unemployment-fraud|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url = https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-01-15/unemployment-benefit-fraud-california-billions-edd |first1=Patrick |last1=McGreevy |title = California unemployment fraud could top $9 billion, double previous estimate, expert warns|website = Los Angeles Times|date = January 15, 2021|access-date = January 16, 2021|archive-date = January 16, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210116004031/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-01-15/unemployment-benefit-fraud-california-billions-edd?_amp=true|url-status = live}} A report by California State Auditor Elaine Howle said $810 million was disbursed to claimants who had fraudulently filed on behalf of inmates in the state's prison system.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/california/unemployment-fraud-audit-creates-fresh-questions-for-newsom/2506164/ |first1=Kathleen |last1=Ronayne |website=NBC 7 San Diego |title=Unemployment Fraud Audit Creates Fresh Questions for Newsom|date=January 29, 2021 |access-date=December 3, 2021|archive-date=December 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203215637/https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/california/unemployment-fraud-audit-creates-fresh-questions-for-newsom/2506164/?amp|url-status=live}}

According to The Sacramento Bee, by the summer of 2021, California owed $23 billion to the federal government for unemployment benefits paid out during the pandemic, which was 43% of all unemployment debt, owed by 13 states at the time, to the federal government.{{cite web|url=https://sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article253319403.html |title=California ran up a $23 billion tab for unemployment benefits. Who will pay off the debt?|website=The Sacramento Bee |access-date=February 11, 2022 |first1=Jeong |last1=Park |date=August 13, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206192736/https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article253319403.html |archive-date=Dec 6, 2023 }} Most of this debt was unrelated to the federally funded pandemic unemployment programs that had experienced most of the fraud, and instead was due to longstanding underfunding and California's high rate of unemployment during the pandemic.{{Cite news|url=https://calmatters.org/economy/2022/03/california-unemployment-debt/|title=California unemployment debt: How to dig out of a $20 billion hole?|newspaper=Calmatters|date=March 4, 2022|last1=Gedye|first1=Grace |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906141014/https://calmatters.org/economy/2022/03/california-unemployment-debt/ |archive-date= Sep 6, 2023 }}

{{Further|List of California wildfires|label1=California wildfires}}

Due to a mass die-off of trees throughout California that could increase the risk of wildfires, Newsom declared a state of emergency on March 22, 2020, in preparation for the 2020 wildfire season.{{cite web|last1=Daniels|first1=Jeff|title=California Gov. Gavin Newsom declares state of emergency due to increased wildfire risk|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/22/california-governor-to-declare-state-of-emergency-due-to-wildfire-risk.html|work=CNBC|date=March 22, 2019|access-date=March 22, 2020|archive-date=August 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802231206/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/22/california-governor-to-declare-state-of-emergency-due-to-wildfire-risk.html|url-status=live}} After declaring a state of emergency on August 18, he reported that the state was battling 367 known fires, many sparked by intense thunderstorms on August 16–17.{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Maanvi |title=California wildfires: thousands evacuate as 'siege' of flames overwhelms state |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/aug/19/california-fires-lake-dome-evacuations |access-date=August 19, 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=August 19, 2020 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819201909/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/aug/19/california-fires-lake-dome-evacuations |url-status=live }} His request for assistance via issuance of a federal disaster declaration in the wake of six major wildfires was first rejected by the Trump administration, but accepted after Trump spoke to Newsom.{{cite news|last1=Fuller|first1=Thomas|last2=Taylor|first2=Derrick Bryson|date=October 16, 2020|title=In Rare Move, Trump Administration Rejects California's Request for Wildfire Relief|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/16/us/trump-california-wildfire-relief.html|access-date=October 16, 2020|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=October 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016113031/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/16/us/trump-california-wildfire-relief.html|url-status=live}}

On June 23, 2021, the NPR station CapRadio reported that Newsom and Cal Fire had falsely claimed in January 2020 that {{convert|90,000| acres}} of land at risk for wildfires had been treated with fuel breaks and prescribed burns; the actual treated area was {{convert|11,399| acres}}, an overstatement of 690%.{{cite web|url=https://www.capradio.org/articles/2021/06/23/newsom-misled-the-public-about-wildfire-prevention-efforts-ahead-of-worst-fire-season-on-record/|title=Newsom Misled the Public About Wildfire Prevention Efforts Ahead of Worst Fire Season on Record|access-date=July 12, 2021|archive-date=July 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712233147/https://www.capradio.org/articles/2021/06/23/newsom-misled-the-public-about-wildfire-prevention-efforts-ahead-of-worst-fire-season-on-record/|url-status=live}} According to CapRadio, the fuel breaks of the 35 "priority projects" Newsom had touted, which were meant to ensure the quick evacuation of residents while preventing traffic jams and a repeat of events in the 2018 fire that destroyed the town of Paradise, where at least eight evacuees burned to death in their vehicles, were struggling to mitigate fire spread in almost every instance while failing to prevent evacuation traffic jams.{{cite web|url=https://www.capradio.org/articles/2021/08/04/gov-newsoms-wildfire-priority-project-didnt-contain-the-lava-fire-leaving-evacuees-stuck-in-traffic/|title=Gov. Newsom's Wildfire 'Priority Project' Didn't Contain the Lava Fire, Leaving Evacuees Stuck in Traffic|access-date=August 9, 2021|archive-date=August 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809071710/https://www.capradio.org/articles/2021/08/04/gov-newsoms-wildfire-priority-project-didnt-contain-the-lava-fire-leaving-evacuees-stuck-in-traffic/|url-status=live}} The same day CapRadio revealed the oversight, leaked emails showed that Newsom's handpicked Cal Fire chief had ordered the removal of the original statement.{{cite web|last=Rodd|first=Scott|title=As Lawmakers Indefinitely Postpone Wildfire Oversight Hearing, Internal Emails Reveal Cal Fire Chief Ordered Key Document Pulled from the Internet|url=https://www.capradio.org/169002|access-date=August 28, 2021|website=www.capradio.org|archive-date=August 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828064817/https://www.capradio.org/169002|url-status=live}} In another report in April 2022, CapRadio found a program, hailed in 2020 by the Newsom administration to fast-track environmental reviews on high-priority fire prevention projects, had failed to make progress.{{cite web |last=Rodd |first=Scott |date=April 12, 2022 |title=Newsom hailed this 'critical' wildfire-prevention program. Two years on, it hasn't completed a single project |url=https://www.capradio.org/175826 |access-date=April 13, 2022 |website=CAP Radio}}

KXTV released a series of reports chronicling PG&E's liabilities after committing 91 felonies in the Santa Rosa and Paradise fires. Newsom was accused of accepting campaign donations from PG&E in order to change the CPUC's ruling on PG&E's safety license. The rating change allowed PG&E to avoid billions of dollars in extra fees. Newsom was also accused of setting up the [https://www.cawildfirefund.com/ Wildfire Insurance Fund] via AB 1054, using ratepayer fees, so PG&E could avoid financial losses{{cite web|last=Rittiman|first=Brandon|date=August 10, 2021|title=Newsom's office crafted law protecting PG&E after company's crimes killed 84 people {{!}} FIRE – POWER – MONEY Investigation|url=https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/abc10-originals/newsom-pge-protection/103-65ca1d41-8efe-45b4-87bc-0cdecc714378|url-status=live|website=abc10.com|access-date=February 11, 2022|archive-date=February 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203064058/https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/abc10-originals/newsom-pge-protection/103-65ca1d41-8efe-45b4-87bc-0cdecc714378}}{{cite web|url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200AB1054|title=AB-1054 Public utilities: wildfires and employee protection|access-date=February 11, 2022|archive-date=December 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221161733/https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200AB1054|url-status=live}} and pass the liability costs to ratepayers and taxpayers.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/abc10-originals/fire-power-money-california-wildfires-investigation-pge/103-c273fb35-1c43-4d9a-9bdc-3d7971e5540b|title=Fire-Power-Money|first=Brandon|last=Rittiman|date=August 10, 2021|access-date=February 11, 2022|archive-date=February 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209022125/https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/abc10-originals/fire-power-money-california-wildfires-investigation-pge/103-c273fb35-1c43-4d9a-9bdc-3d7971e5540b|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=California government defends PG&E bailout law in court|url=https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/california-defends-pge-bailout-law/103-88759c26-1f62-4c6f-8f17-8f8b823e5f35|first=Brandon|last=Rittiman|date=August 12, 2021|access-date=February 11, 2022|archive-date=August 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819185233/https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/california-defends-pge-bailout-law/103-88759c26-1f62-4c6f-8f17-8f8b823e5f35|url-status=live}}

{{broader|Climate change policy of California|Hydraulic fracturing in the United States}}

File:Gavin_Newsom_talks_about_climate_change_at_North_Complex_Fire_-_2020-09-11.ogv, September 2020]]

Upon taking office in 2019, Newsom succeeded Brown as co-chair of the United States Climate Alliance. In September 2019, Newsom vetoed SB 1, which would have preserved environmental protections at the state level that were set to roll back nationally under the Trump administration's environmental policy.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-09-27/gavin-newsom-vetoes-california-bill-trump-environment-rollbacks|title=Defying environmentalists, Newsom vetoes bill to block Trump's Endangered Species Act rollback|last=Willon|first=Phil|date=September 28, 2019|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=October 2, 2019|archive-date=October 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002083609/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-09-27/gavin-newsom-vetoes-california-bill-trump-environment-rollbacks|url-status=live}} In February 2020, the Newsom administration sued federal agencies over the rollbacks to protect imperiled fish in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta in 2019.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2019-11-22/newsom-administration-sends-mixed-signals-on-delta-endangered-species-protections|title=Newsom administration sends mixed signals on delta endangered species protections|last=Boxall|first=Bettina|date=November 22, 2019|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=November 23, 2019|archive-date=November 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191122141203/https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2019-11-22/newsom-administration-sends-mixed-signals-on-delta-endangered-species-protections|url-status=live}}{{cite web |date=February 20, 2020 |title=Attorney General Becerra Files Lawsuit Against Trump Administration for Failing to Protect Endangered Species in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers |url=https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-becerra-files-lawsuit-against-trump-administration-failing |access-date=July 4, 2022 |website=State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General }}

Newsom attended the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit, where he spoke of California as a climate leader due to the actions of governors before him.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-09-24/gavin-newsom-california-climate-change-satellite-jerry-brown|title=Newsom will announce new plans for a satellite to track climate change|last=Luna|first=Taryn|date=September 25, 2019|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=October 7, 2019|archive-date=October 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006211441/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-09-24/gavin-newsom-california-climate-change-satellite-jerry-brown|url-status=live}}{{r|LAT 2019-09-27}} In August 2020, he addressed the 2020 Democratic National Convention. His speech mentioned climate change and the wildfires prevalent in California at the time.{{cite news|url=https://abc7news.com/gavin-newsom-dnc-california-wildfires-climate-change-governor/6381026/|title=Newsom's address to the Democratic National Convention, emphasizing climate change and praising Joe Biden and Kamala Harris|date=August 21, 2020|newspaper=ABC News|access-date=August 23, 2020|archive-date=August 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823164352/https://abc7news.com/gavin-newsom-dnc-california-wildfires-climate-change-governor/6381026/|url-status=live}} On September 23, 2020, Newsom signed an executive order to phase out sales of gasoline-powered vehicles and require all new passenger vehicles sold in the state to be zero-emission by 2035.{{cite news |last1=Grandoni |first1=Dino |title=California to phase out sales of new gas-powered cars by 2035 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/09/23/california-electric-cars/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 23, 2020 |access-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112194644/https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/09/23/california-electric-cars/ |url-status=live }} Bills he signed in September with an environmental focus included a commission to study lithium extraction around the Salton Sea.{{cite news |last=Olalde|first=Mark|date=September 30, 2020|title=Gov. Gavin Newsom signs off on new commission to study Salton Sea lithium extraction|url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/2020/09/29/gavin-newsom-greenlights-commission-salton-sea-lithium-extraction/3584170001/|access-date=September 30, 2020|work=The Desert Sun |archive-date=October 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001142425/https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/2020/09/29/gavin-newsom-greenlights-commission-salton-sea-lithium-extraction/3584170001/|url-status=live}}

During his 2018 campaign, Newsom pledged to tighten state oversight of fracking and oil extraction.{{cite news |last=Willon |first=Phil |date=July 12, 2019 |title=Gov. Gavin Newsom fires top official over fracking permits — but won't ban the oil wells |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-gavin-newsom-oil-fracking-20190712-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=July 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713183025/https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-gavin-newsom-oil-fracking-20190712-story.html |archive-date=July 13, 2019}} Early in his governorship, his administration approved new oil and gas leases on public lands at about twice the rate of the prior year.{{cite web |date=September 3, 2020 |title=Approvals for new oil and gas wells up in California |url=https://apnews.com/article/d04910d29539d39e24eaa725bcf4545f |access-date=May 30, 2022 |website=AP NEWS|first=Daisy|last=Nguyen }}{{cite web |last=Cantu |first=Aaron |date=February 1, 2021 |title=California Governor Gavin Newsom, despite pledge, signed 1,709 oil and gas production permits |url=https://www.newsweek.com/california-governor-gavin-newsom-despite-pledge-signed-1709-oil-gas-production-permits-1565926 |access-date=May 30, 2022 |website=Newsweek }}{{Cite news |date=November 18, 2019 |title=Why Is California Approving So Many New Oil Wells? |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-11-18/under-newsom-oil-well-approvals-are-going-up |access-date=May 30, 2022}} When asked about this development, Newsom said he was unaware of the rate of approvals, and he later fired the head of the Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources. In November 2019, he imposed a moratorium on approval of new hydraulic fracturing and steam-injected oil drilling in the state until the permits for those projects could be reviewed by an independent panel of scientists.{{cite news |last=Willon |first=Phil |date=November 19, 2019 |title=Newsom blocks new California fracking pending scientific review |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-11-19/california-fracking-permits-scientific-review-gavin-newsom |url-status=live |access-date=November 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191120175436/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-11-19/california-fracking-permits-scientific-review-gavin-newsom |archive-date=November 20, 2019}} State agencies resumed issuing new hydraulic fracturing permits in April 2020.{{cite web |date=April 4, 2020 |title=California Issues First New Fracking Permits Since July |url=https://www.kpbs.org/news/2020/04/04/california-issues-first-new-fracking-permits-july |access-date=May 30, 2022 |website=KPBS Public Media }} In 2021, the Center for Biological Diversity sued the Newsom administration over the continued sale of oil and gas leases, and Consumer Watchdog called for the end of their sale.{{cite web |last=Willon |first=Phil |date=September 21, 2020 |title=Environmentalists plan lawsuit challenging Newsom over oil and gas drilling permits |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-09-21/environmentalists-lawsuit-gavin-newsom-over-oil-and-gas-drilling-permits |access-date=May 30, 2022 |website=Los Angeles Times }}{{cite web |date=February 25, 2021 |title=Gavin Newsom Sued for 'Completely Unacceptable' Approval of Oil and Gas Projects in California |url=http://www.ecowatch.com/newsom-california-lawsuit-oil-gas-2650797501.html |access-date=May 30, 2022 |website=EcoWatch }}{{Cite news |last=Sheeler |first=Andrew |date=October 5, 2021 |title=End oil drilling permits? + Equality California union breakthrough + Group seeks Newsom vetoes |work=The Sacramento Bee |url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article254752757.html |access-date=May 30, 2022}} In April 2021, Newsom committed to ending the sale of gas leases by 2024 and ending oil extraction by 2045.{{Cite news |last=Hubler |first=Shawn |date=April 23, 2021 |title=California's governor seeks to ban new fracking and halt oil production, but not immediately. |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/23/us/politics/gavin-newsom-california-fracking.html |access-date=May 30, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}} In October 2021, he proposed a {{convert|3,200|ft|adj=on}} buffer between new fossil fuel extraction sites and densely populated areas.{{cite web |last=Newburger |first=Emma |date=October 21, 2021 |title=California moves to ban oil wells within 3,200 feet of homes and schools |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/21/california-moves-to-ban-oil-wells-within-3200-feet-of-homes-schools.html |access-date=May 12, 2022 |website=CNBC }}

In 2022, gas prices in California exceeded $6 per gallon. Newsom attributed this to corporate greed and price gouging by oil companies. He proposed a windfall profits tax and penalty for oil companies in September 2022. On March 28, 2023, Newsom signed a law that authorizes the California Energy Commission to set "a profit threshold above which companies would be assessed a financial penalty", requires petroleum companies to report additional profit data to state regulators, and creates a new oversight division of the California Energy Commission to investigate price gouging in the gasoline industry.{{Cite news |last=Koseff |first=Alexei |date=March 29, 2023 |title=Newsom signs watered-down oil profit penalty into law |language=en-US |work=CalMatters |url=http://calmatters.org/politics/2023/03/california-gas-prices-newsom-oil/ |access-date=March 29, 2023}}

The Sacramento Bee reported that Jennifer Siebel Newsom's nonprofit organization The Representation Project had received more than $800,000 in donations from corporations that had lobbied the state government in recent years, including PG&E, AT&T, Comcast, and Kaiser Permanente. Siebel Newsom received $2.3 million in salary from the nonprofit since launching it in 2011. In 2021, Governor Newsom said that he saw no conflict in his wife's nonprofit accepting donations from companies that lobby his administration.{{cite web|date=June 4, 2021|title=Newsom: No conflict in corporate giving to wife's non-profit|url=https://apnews.com/article/philanthropy-business-government-and-politics-31a641939b215c6e7062dfa9b9956431|access-date=August 2, 2021|website=AP NEWS|first=Kathleen |last=Ronayne|archive-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802233940/https://apnews.com/article/philanthropy-business-government-and-politics-31a641939b215c6e7062dfa9b9956431|url-status=live}}

In February 2024, Bloomberg News reported that Newsom pushed for an exemption for businesses that bake and sell bread in AB 1228,{{cite web |title=AB-1228 Fast food restaurant industry: Fast Food Council: health, safety, employment, and minimum wage. |url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB1228 |website=California Legislative Information |publisher=State of California |access-date=November 27, 2024}} a bill that raises the state's minimum wage for fast food workers to $20 per hour. The exemption includes 24 Panera Bread bakery-cafes owned by Greg Flynn, a businessman who donated $100,000 and $64,800 to Newsom's campaigns over the years. Republican lawmakers called for an investigation into the unusual exemption. When reporters asked him about the exemption, Newsom said: "That's a part of the sausage making. We went back and forth, and that was part of the negotiation. That's the nature of negotiation{{nbsp}}... That was all part of the give and take and that was the collective wisdom of the legislature and ultimately led to my signature."{{cite news |last1=Sirtori |first1=Daniela |title=How Panera Bread Ducked California's New $20 Minimum Wage Law |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-28/panera-bread-exempt-from-california-s-minimum-wage-increase-for-fast-food-worker |access-date=November 27, 2024 |work=Bloomberg |date=February 28, 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Zavala |first1=Ashley |title=Report: California's fast food law exempts Panera because of Gov. Newsom's relationship with billionaire franchisee |url=https://www.kcra.com/article/report-california-fast-food-law-panera-newsoms-relationship-with-billionaire-franchisee/60014966 |access-date=November 27, 2024 |work=KCRA 3 |date=February 29, 2024}}

In September 2024, the Los Angeles Times reported that Newsom had signed AB 3206{{cite web |title=AB-3206 Alcoholic beverages: hours of sale: arenas in the City of Inglewood |url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov:443/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB3206 |website=California Legislative Information |publisher=State of California |access-date=November 18, 2024}} into law, carving out an exception to the state's last call alcohol law for one specific venue, Intuit Dome, owned by former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. Ballmer's wife, Connie Ballmer, donated $1 million to the Newsom campaign in 2021. Ethics experts criticized the bill for exclusively benefiting a major donor to Newsom. "It's certainly going to become an issue for his opponents and critics to point to the fact that he seemed to provide a special favor to a wealthy sports franchise owner and its facility and its wealthy fans. It just doesn't look good", said John Pelissero, director of government ethics at Santa Clara University. A spokesperson for Newsom said, "The governor's decisions on legislation are made solely on the merits of each bill."{{cite news |last1=Nguyễn |first1=Trân |title=Last call at 4 a.m. in California? Governor says yes for one private club in LA Clippers' new arena |url=https://apnews.com/article/newsom-alcohol-exception-los-angeles-clippers-club-39e62c268490e199ad037b78671133f3 |access-date=November 18, 2024 |work=Associated Press |date=October 3, 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Mays |first1=Mackenzie |title=Newsom signs bill to push last call until 4 a.m. — but only for VIPs at new Clippers arena |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-09-30/newsom-signs-bill-to-push-last-call-until-4-a-m-but-only-for-vips-at-new-clippers-arena |access-date=November 18, 2024 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=September 30, 2024}}

Overall, Newsom has vetoed legislation at a rate comparable to that of his predecessors. From 2019 to 2021, he vetoed 12.7% of the bills the legislature passed on average.{{Cite news |last=Rosenhall |first=Laurel |date=October 12, 2021 |title=Newsom's vetoes: Why did the governor block California bills? |work=CalMatters |url=http://calmatters.org/politics/2021/10/california-bills-newsom-vetoes/ |access-date=May 30, 2022}} The rate declined over the course of the three legislative sessions.{{cite web |last=Rosenhall |first=Laurel |date=October 17, 2021 |title=Budget, Repeats and Caution: Why Gov. Gavin Newsom Vetoed 66 Bills |url=https://timesofsandiego.com/politics/2021/10/16/budget-repeats-and-caution-why-gov-gavin-newsom-vetoed-66-bills/ |access-date=May 30, 2022 |website=Times of San Diego }} Newsom's vetoes have included bills to allow ranked-choice voting, require an ethnic studies class as a high school graduation requirement, regulate AI, and reduce penalties for jaywalking.{{cite web |last=Wildermuth |first=John |date=October 15, 2019 |title=Gavin Newsom vetoes bill to allow ranked-choice voting throughout California |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Gavin-Newsom-vetoes-bill-to-allow-ranked-choice-14535193.php |access-date=May 30, 2022 |website=San Francisco Chronicle }}{{cite web |last=Fensterwald |first=John |title=Gov. Newsom vetoes requirement for ethnic studies course in high school |url=https://edsource.org/2020/gov-newsom-vetoes-requirement-for-ethnic-studies-course-in-high-school/640877 |access-date=May 30, 2022 |website=EdSource }}{{cite web |last=Gutierrez |first=Melody |date=October 9, 2021 |title=Newsom vetoes jaywalking bill aimed at easing fines, targeted enforcement |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-10-08/new-california-law-will-limit-jaywalking-tickets |access-date=May 30, 2022 |website=Los Angeles Times }}

Newsom used a larger than normal number of executive orders during the 2020 legislative session.{{Cite news |last=Christopher |first=Ben |date=October 5, 2020 |title=How the pandemic reshaped California politics in 2020 |work=CalMatters |url=http://calmatters.org/politics/post-it/2020/10/pandemic-reshaped-california-politics-data/ |access-date=May 30, 2022}}{{cite web |last=Kahn |first=Debra |title=Newsom executive orders test constitutional bounds — and legislative goodwill |url=https://www.politico.com/states/states/california/story/2020/04/22/newsom-executive-orders-test-constitutional-bounds-and-legislative-goodwill-1279094 |access-date=May 30, 2022 |website=POLITICO }}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{Broader|Gun laws in California}}

As lieutenant governor in 2016, Newsom was the official proponent of Proposition 63. The ballot measure required a background check and California Department of Justice authorization to purchase ammunition, among other gun control regulations. In response to the 2019 mass shooting in Virginia Beach, Newsom called for nationwide background checks on people purchasing ammunition.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-gavin-newsom-ammunition-purchases-gun-rights-20190601-story.html|title=California Gov. Gavin Newsom calls for nationwide background checks on ammo purchases|last=Willon|first=Phil|date=June 1, 2019|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=June 2, 2019|archive-date=June 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601232845/https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-gavin-newsom-ammunition-purchases-gun-rights-20190601-story.html|url-status=live}} Later that year, he responded to the Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting by stating his support for the Second Amendment and saying he would like national cooperation controlling "weapons of goddamned mass destruction".{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-07-30/gilroy-festival-shooter-obtained-weapons-of-goddamned-mass-destruction-newsom-says|title=Gilroy festival shooter obtained 'weapons of goddamned mass destruction,' Newsom says|last1=Winton|first1=Richard|last2=Luna|first2=Taryn|date=July 30, 2019|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=July 30, 2019|last3=McGreevy|first3=Patrick|last4=Nelson|first4=Laura|archive-date=November 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191125185323/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-07-30/gilroy-festival-shooter-obtained-weapons-of-goddamned-mass-destruction-newsom-says|url-status=live}} He also said, "These shootings overwhelmingly, almost exclusively, are males, boys, 'men'—I put in loose quotes. I do think that is missing in the national conversation."{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2019-10-07/mass-shootings-toxic-masculinity|title=When masculinity turns 'toxic': A gender profile of mass shootings|last=REESE|first=PHILLIP|date=October 7, 2019|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=October 15, 2019|archive-date=October 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014212752/https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2019-10-07/mass-shootings-toxic-masculinity|url-status=live}}

On June 10, 2021, Newsom called federal Judge Roger Benitez "a stone cold ideologue" and "a wholly owned subsidiary of the gun lobby of the National Rifle Association" after Benitez struck down California's statewide ban on assault weapons.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/california/newsom-to-take-action-after-judge-overturns-californias-assault-weapons-ban/2566645/|title=California Appeals Court Ruling Upending Assault Weapons Ban|date=June 10, 2021 |access-date=June 10, 2021|archive-date=June 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610225116/https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/california/newsom-to-take-action-after-judge-overturns-californias-assault-weapons-ban/2566645/|url-status=live}} While the ban remained in place as the state appealed the ruling, Newsom proposed legislation that would empower private citizens to enforce the ban after the United States Supreme Court declined to strike down the Texas Heartbeat Act, which empowers private citizens to report unauthorized abortions.{{Cite news|agency=The Associated Press|date=December 12, 2021|title=California's governor pledges to model an assault weapons ban on Texas abortion law|work=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/12/12/1063489922/california-governor-gavin-newsom-assault-weapons-ban-texas-abortion-law|access-date=December 12, 2021|archive-date=December 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211212162421/https://www.npr.org/2021/12/12/1063489922/california-governor-gavin-newsom-assault-weapons-ban-texas-abortion-law|url-status=live}}

In 2022, Newsom signed gun control bills passed by the California Legislature. On July 1, he signed Assembly Bill 1621, which restricts privately made firearms, which were found to be linked to over 100 violent crimes in Los Angeles, and Assembly Bill 2571, which prohibited the marketing of firearms such as the JR-15 to children.{{cite web |date=July 1, 2022 |title=Governor Newsom Takes Action to Further Restrict Ghost Guns and Protect California Kids from Gun Violence |url=https://www.gov.ca.gov/2022/07/01/governor-newsom-takes-action-to-further-restrict-ghost-guns-and-protect-california-kids-from-gun-violence/ |access-date=July 4, 2022 |website=California Governor }}{{cite web |last=Ahumada |first=Rosalio |date=July 1, 2022 |title=Gavin Newsom signs new gun safety laws targeting illegal weapons, marketing to kids |url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article263108183.html |access-date=July 4, 2022 |website=The Sacramento Bee}} On July 22, Newsom signed Senate Bill 1327, a law enabling private citizens to sue anyone who imports, distributes, manufactures or sells illegal firearms in California.{{Cite web |author=Veronica Stracqualursi |title=Newsom signs California gun bill modeled after Texas abortion law |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/22/politics/california-newsom-gun-bill-texas-abortion-law/index.html |access-date=July 23, 2022 |website=CNN|date=July 22, 2022 }} The law requires courts to award statutory damages of at least $10,000 and attorney's fees.{{Cite web |date=July 22, 2022 |title=Newsom signs gun law modeled after Texas abortion ban, setting up Supreme Court fight |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-07-22/newsom-signs-gun-bill-modeled-after-texas-abortion-ban-setting-up |access-date=July 23, 2022 |website=Los Angeles Times }}

On June 8, 2023, Newsom proposed a 28th amendment to the U.S. Constitution to raise the age to buy firearms to 21, institute universal background checks for gun purchases, mandate waiting periods and ban assault weapons for civilians.{{Cite web |last=Ellison |first=Stephen |date=June 8, 2023 |title=California governor launches campaign for gun control amendment to US Constitution |url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/politics/california-governor-gun-control-amendment/3247410/ |access-date=June 8, 2023 |website=NBC Bay Area |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=June 8, 2023 |title=Governor Newsom proposing a 28th Amendment to the Constitution to end the gun violence crisis |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/governor-newsom-proposing-28th-amendment-constitution-end-gun-violence-crisis/ |access-date=June 8, 2023 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}} Law professor Erwin Chemerinsky called this a "terrible idea", since the advocated method (which has never been used) would be a constitutional convention (which is not understood to be limited to single amendments), potentially allowing a complete rewrite of the Constitution, or addition of other amendments on separate subjects, like abortion, or the often proposed balanced budget amendment (which liberals feel would decimate welfare programs).{{ cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-06-08/newsom-calls-for-constitutional-amendment-on-gun-control | title=Newsom launches long-shot push for U.S. constitutional amendment on gun control | last1=Willon | first1=Phil | last2=Luna | first2=Taryn | newspaper=Los Angeles Times | date=June 8, 2023 | quote=Under Article V of the U.S. Constitution, an amendment may be proposed by a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers of Congress or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the state legislatures. None of the 27 amendments to the Constitution have been proposed in a constitutional convention under that process. "To me, what's really frightening about it is we've never had a constitutional convention under that procedure of Article V," Chemerinsky said. "No one knows would it be limited to just the 2nd Amendment, or could it do anything? Could they do abortion or rewrite the Constitution? How is it going to be constituted? What are its rules?"}}

{{further|Abortion in California}}

In December 2021, Newsom announced his intention to make California a "sanctuary" for abortion, which included possibly paying for procedures, travel, and lodging for out-of-state abortion seekers, if the procedure is banned in Republican-led states.{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/abortion-california-sanctuary-625a118108bcda253196697c83548d5b|title=California plans to be abortion sanctuary if Roe overturned|website=Associated Press|date=December 8, 2021}} In March 2022, he signed a bill requiring private health insurance plans in the state to fully cover abortion procedures by eliminating associated co-pays and deductibles and increasing insurance premiums.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/amp/Health/wireStory/california-governor-signs-law-makes-abortions-cheaper-83620915|title = California governor signs law that makes abortions cheaper|website = ABC News}} In February 2023, Newsom organized the Reproductive Freedom Alliance of state governors supportive of abortion and reproductive rights.{{Cite web |date=February 21, 2023 |title=Twenty-One States Announce Historic Governor-Led Reproductive Freedom Alliance |url=https://www.gov.ca.gov/2023/02/21/twenty-states-announce-historic-governor-led-reproductive-freedom-alliance/ |access-date=March 4, 2023 |website=California Governor |language=en}}

After Walgreens announced in March 2023 that it would refuse to dispense abortion pills in the 21 states where it is illegal, Newsom tweeted, "California won't be doing business with @walgreens – or any company that cowers to the extremists and puts women's lives at risk, we're done." He also said that Walgreens was giving in to "right-wing bullies" and that he would determine how California can cut ties with Walgreens.{{Cite web |author=Gregory Krieg |author2=Nathaniel Meyersohn |date=March 7, 2023 |title=Newsom to shut Walgreens out of California state business following abortion pill decision {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/07/politics/gavin-newsom-walgreens-california-abortion-drug/index.html |access-date=March 10, 2023 |website=CNN |language=en}} He indicated that he wanted to cancel Walgreens' $54 million contract with the California state prison system.{{ r | SFC_2023-04-06 }} Walgreens also receives $1.5 billion for filling prescriptions for the 15 million people enrolled in the state's Medi-Cal program (California's version of Medicaid).{{ r | SFC_2023-04-06 }} Legal experts said that federal Medicaid laws do not allow health plans to disqualify providers for reasons other than fraud or contract violations, provisions that have prevented conservative states from blocking Medicaid spending to Planned Parenthood clinics.{{ cite news | url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/newsom-plan-drop-walgreens-stymied-federal-17882850.php | title=Gov. Newsom wanted California to cut ties with Walgreens. Then federal law got in the way | last=Young | first=Samantha | newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle | date=April 6, 2023 | quote=The federal regulations that protect Walgreens are the same that have allowed Planned Parenthood to offer health care services to Medicaid enrollees in conservative states, where leaders have sought unsuccessfully to exclude the network of clinics from receiving taxpayer funding. An approved pharmacy company can be excluded from state networks only if it has committed fraud or other contract violations, added Edwin Park, a research professor at Georgetown University with expertise in Medicaid law. "Certainly, that wouldn't be the case for Walgreens," Park said. }}

{{further|Healthcare in California}}

Newsom campaigned on reducing the cost of health care and increasing access. He also indicated his support for creating a universal state health-care system.{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Where-Gov-Gavin-Newsom-wins-and-loses-in-newly-13989142.php|title=Where Gov. Gavin Newsom wins and loses in newly passed California budget|last=Koseff|first=Alexei|date=June 14, 2019|website=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=June 14, 2019|archive-date=June 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190614001029/https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Where-Gov-Gavin-Newsom-wins-and-loses-in-newly-13989142.php|url-status=live}} The budget passed in June 2019 expanded eligibility for Medi-Cal from solely undocumented minor children to undocumented young adults from ages 19 to 25.{{r|SFC 2019-06-14}} In 2021, Newsom signed legislation expanding Medi-Cal eligibility to undocumented residents over age 50.{{cite web|last=Gutierrez|first=Melody|date=July 27, 2021|title=California expands Medi-Cal to older undocumented immigrants|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-07-27/medi-cal-expansion-immigrants-budget-california-newsom-legislature|url-status=live|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=December 3, 2021|archive-date=December 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203222846/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-07-27/medi-cal-expansion-immigrants-budget-california-newsom-legislature?_amp=true}}{{cite web|url=https://ktla.com/news/california/california-budget-deal-would-boost-health-care-for-undocumented-immigrants-over-50/|title=California budget deal would boost health care for undocumented immigrants over 50|date=June 26, 2021}} On June 30, 2022, he signed a $307.9 billion state budget that "pledges to make all low-income adults eligible for the state's Medicaid program by 2024 regardless of their immigration status." This budget would make California the first U.S. state to guarantee healthcare to all low-income undocumented immigrants, at a cost of $2.7 billion per year.{{cite news |last1=Beam |first1=Adam |last2=Thompson |first2=Don |date=July 1, 2022 |title=California becomes first state to guarantee free health care for all low-income immigrants |url=https://abc7.com/california-immigration-health-care-immigrants/12009713/ |access-date=July 4, 2022 |website=ABC7 Los Angeles |archive-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705191703/https://abc7.com/california-immigration-health-care-immigrants/12009713/ }}

Newsom was criticized in early 2022 for walking back from his support for universal health care and not supporting CalCare, Assembly Bill 1400, which would have instituted single-payer healthcare in California; critics suggested that opposition from business interests, which had donated large sums to Newsom and his party, had swayed his opinion.{{Cite magazine|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/165338/california-democrats-calcare-single-payer-health-care|title=Why California's Cowardly Democrats Scurried Away From Single-Payer|author=Abdul El-Sayed|date=February 22, 2022|access-date=March 22, 2022|magazine=The New Republic}}{{cite web|url=https://www.levernews.com/newsoms-big-choice-single-payer-or-his-insurance-donors/|title=Newsom's Big Choice: Single Payer Or His Insurance Donors?|date=January 28, 2022|access-date=March 22, 2022|author=Walker Bragman}}

On July 6, 2022, Newsom signed Senate Bill 184, which established the Office of Health Care Affordability, with the stated goal to "develop data-informed policies and enforceable cost targets, with the ultimate goal of containing health care costs."{{Cite web |last=Marashi |first=Soraya |date=July 6, 2022 |title=Newsom signs bill establishing Office of Health Care Affordability after negotiations |url=https://stateofreform.com/featured/2022/07/newsom-signs-office-health-care-affordability-negotiations/ |access-date=March 16, 2023 |website=State of Reform |language=en-US}}

In October 2023, Newsom vetoed a bill to cap co-pays for diabetic insulin at $35.{{cite web | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/newsom-signs-bill-advancing-universal-health-care-vetoes-insulin-price-cap/ | title=Newsom signs bill advancing universal health care, vetoes insulin price cap - CBS San Francisco | website=CBS News | date=October 7, 2023 }}{{Cite news |last=Oxford |first=Andrew |date=2023-10-08 |title=California Governor Vetoes Bill Capping Monthly Insulin Costs |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/in-house-counsel/california-governor-vetoes-law-capping-monthly-insulin-costs |access-date=2024-09-16 |work=Bloomberg Law}}

{{broader|California High-Speed Rail}}

In his February 2019 State of the State address, Newsom announced that, while work would continue on the {{convert|171|mi|km|adj=on}}{{cite news|url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article226282855.html|title=No, Gov. Gavin Newsom didn't kill high-speed rail. But what's his Plan B?|work=Sacramento Bee|date=February 18, 2019|access-date=February 21, 2019|archive-date=February 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221024218/https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article226282855.html|url-status=live}} Central Valley segment from Bakersfield to Merced, the rest of the system would be indefinitely postponed, citing cost overruns and delays.{{cite news|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/is-gavin-newsom-right-to-slow-down-californias-high-speed-train|title=Is Gavin Newsom Right to Slow Down California's High-Speed Train?|first=Nathan|last=Heller|date=February 15, 2019|work=New Yorker|access-date=February 16, 2019|archive-date=February 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215135325/https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/is-gavin-newsom-right-to-slow-down-californias-high-speed-train|url-status=live}} This and other actions created tension with the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, a labor union representing 450,000 members.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-12-02/gavin-newsom-labor-union-feud-california|title=One of California's most powerful labor unions is feuding with Gov. Gavin Newsom|last=Luna|first=Taryn|date=December 2, 2019|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=December 2, 2019|archive-date=December 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202170324/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-12-02/gavin-newsom-labor-union-feud-california|url-status=live}}

{{Broader|Homelessness in California|California housing shortage}}

A poll found that California voters thought the most important issue for Newsom and the state legislature to work on in 2020 was homelessness.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-01-16/skelton-gavin-newsom-homelessness-policy-california-voters|title=Newsom can't afford to ignore homelessness. It's the top issue with voters|last=Skelton|first=George|date=January 16, 2020|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-date=January 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116125808/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-01-16/skelton-gavin-newsom-homelessness-policy-california-voters|url-status=live}} In his first week of office, Newsom threatened to withhold state funding for infrastructure to communities that failed to take actions to alleviate California's housing shortage.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/04/14/trump-newsom-california-battles-changes-first-100-days/3353383002/|title=As Trump battles California, Gov. Newsom makes big changes in first 100 days|last=della Cava|first=Marco|date=April 14, 2019|newspaper=USA Today|access-date=April 15, 2019|archive-date=April 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414182914/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/04/14/trump-newsom-california-battles-changes-first-100-days/3353383002/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-gavin-newsom-housing-money-budget-20190110-story.html|title=Gov. Gavin Newsom threatens to cut state funding from cities that don't approve enough housing|last=Dillon|first=Liam|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=January 10, 2019|access-date=January 29, 2019|archive-date=January 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129040904/https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-gavin-newsom-housing-money-budget-20190110-story.html|url-status=live}} In late January 2019, he announced that he would sue Huntington Beach for preventing the construction of affordable housing.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-gavin-newsom-huntington-beach-housing-lawsuit-20190125-story.html|title=At Gov. Newsom's urging, California will sue Huntington Beach over blocked homebuilding|last=Dillon|first=Liam|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=January 25, 2019|access-date=January 29, 2019|archive-date=January 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129040851/https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-gavin-newsom-huntington-beach-housing-lawsuit-20190125-story.html|url-status=live}} A year later, the city acted to settle the lawsuit by the state.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/story/2020-01-15/h-b-planning-commision-recommends-housing-element-and-becsp-amendment-to-council|title=Planning Commission vote moves Huntington Beach a step closer to resolving state housing lawsuit|last=Sclafani|first=Julia|date=January 15, 2020|website=Daily Pilot|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-date=January 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116053606/https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/story/2020-01-15/h-b-planning-commision-recommends-housing-element-and-becsp-amendment-to-council|url-status=live}} Newsom opposes NIMBY (not-in-my-back-yard) sentiment, declaring in 2022 that "NIMBYism is destroying the state".{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/enterthefray/la-ol-newsom-huntington-beach-lawsuit-20190125-story.html|title=Gavin Newsom just declared war on NIMBYs|last=Cavanaugh|first=Kerry|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=January 25, 2019|access-date=January 29, 2019|archive-date=January 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190128224733/https://www.latimes.com/opinion/enterthefray/la-ol-newsom-huntington-beach-lawsuit-20190125-story.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-housing-southern-california-rejects-state-20190618-story.html|title=Southern California cities cite 'chaos' in rejecting state push for more housing|last=Dillon|first=Liam|date=June 18, 2019|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=June 18, 2019|archive-date=June 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618185225/https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-housing-southern-california-rejects-state-20190618-story.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-01-16/california-homelessness-tour-gavin-newsom-trailers|title=Gov. Gavin Newsom promotes using state-owned trailers to house homeless people|last=Luna|first=Taryn|date=January 17, 2020|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=January 17, 2020|archive-date=January 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200117034936/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-01-16/california-homelessness-tour-gavin-newsom-trailers|url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Bollag |first=Sophia |date=May 22, 2022 |title='NIMBYism is destroying the state.' Gavin Newsom ups pressure on cities to build more housing |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/newsom-housing-17188515.php |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |publication-place=San Francisco |place=Sacramento |access-date=June 6, 2022 |quote="NIMBYism is destroying the state," [Newsome] told the editorial board in an interview seeking the paper's endorsement in his upcoming re-election bid. "We're gonna demand more from our cities and counties."}} In 2021, he signed a pair of bills into law that made zoning regulations for housing less restrictive, allowing construction of duplexes and fourplexes in lots that were previously zoned exclusively for single-family homes.{{cite web|last=Koseff|first=Alexei|date=September 16, 2021|title=Newsom signs long-awaited bills to increase housing density in California|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Newsom-signs-long-awaited-bills-to-increase-16465752.php|access-date=September 17, 2021|website=San Francisco Chronicle|archive-date=September 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917001433/https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Newsom-signs-long-awaited-bills-to-increase-16465752.php|url-status=live}} Newsom also signed a bill which expedites the environmental review process for new multifamily developments worth at least $15,000,000. To participate, developers must apply directly through the governor's office.{{cite web|title=Bill Text – SB-7 Environmental quality: Jobs and Economic Improvement Through Environmental Leadership Act of 2021.|url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB7|access-date=September 2, 2021|website=leginfo.legislature.ca.gov|archive-date=September 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902211409/https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB7|url-status=live}}

In 2022, Newsom signed 39 bills into law intended to address California's housing crisis, three of which entailed major land use reform.{{cite news |last1=Gardiner |first1=Dustin |title=Newsom signs major bills to increase housing density in urban centers |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Newsom-signs-major-bills-to-increase-housing-17473266.php |access-date=29 September 2022 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=28 September 2022 |language=en}} One bill eliminated minimum parking requirements for housing near mass transit stations throughout the state.{{cite news |last1=Khouri |first1=Andrew |title=California bans mandated parking near transit to fight high housing prices, climate change |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-09-23/newsom-bill-banning-parking-requirement-transit-housing-climate-change |access-date=29 September 2022 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=23 September 2022}} Michael Manville, an urban planning professor at UCLA's Luskin School of Public Affairs, called it "one of the biggest land-use reforms in the country." Another bill allowed developers to build housing on some lots previously exclusively zoned for commercial use without getting local governments' permission if a certain percentage of the housing was affordable.{{cite news |last1=Beam |first1=Adam |title=California Gov. Newsom signs laws to boost housing production |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/california-gov-newsom-signs-laws-to-boost-housing-production |access-date=29 September 2022 |work=PBS NewsHour |agency=Associated Press |date=28 September 2022 |language=en-us}} A third bill allowed for the construction of market-rate housing on some lots previously exclusively zoned for commercial use. In a signing ceremony for the latter two bills, Newsom warned local governments, which have a history of blocking and delaying housing developments, that they would be held accountable for future housing obstructionism. Other bills Newsom signed required localities "to approve or deny various building permits within a strict timeline" and streamlined student and faculty housing projects by allowing California colleges to skip onerous review processes for new projects. Measures and actions to reduce homelessness in California have not yet solved the problem.{{cite news |last1=Watt |first1=Nick |title=California has spent billions to fight homelessness. The problem has gotten worse |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/11/us/california-homeless-spending/index.html |access-date=1 January 2024 |work=CNN |date=11 July 2023 |language=en}} The number of homeless hit a record number of over 181,000 in January 2023.{{Cite news |last=Levin |first=Sam |date=2023-12-19 |title=California's homelessness crisis is the worst in the US. But who is struggling the most? |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/dec/19/california-us-street-homelessness-youth-unsheltered-annual-report |access-date=2024-01-01 |issn=0261-3077}} According to some, to cope with this problem, California must build more than 2.5 million housing units.

In October 2023, Newsom vetoed several bills aimed at expanding access to housing assistance. One was a bill to repurpose unused state-owned land for affordable housing, which Newsom said infringed on state sovereignty. Another would have expanded the number of people who qualify for state housing assistance. A third would have mandated that Medi-Cal cover the cost of housing assistance.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SB-773-Veto.pdf |title=To the Members of California State Senate |publisher=Office of the Governor |date=October 7, 2023 |access-date=January 14, 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/AB-309-Veto.pdf |title=To the Members of the California State Assembly |publisher=Office of the Governor |date=October 7, 2023 |access-date=January 14, 2025}}{{Cite news |last=La |first=Lynn |date=2023-10-09 |title=Which big California bills did Newsom veto? |url=http://calmatters.org/newsletters/whatmatters/2023/10/gavin-newsom-veto-bills/ |access-date=2024-07-18 |work=CalMatters |language=en-US}}

In August 2024, Newsom warned counties that did not remove their homeless encampments that failure to do so would result in their state funding being cut off the next year.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-09 |title=California governor vows to take away funding from cities and counties for not clearing encampments |url=https://apnews.com/article/california-gavin-newsom-homeless-sweeps-funding-bdaf5719847e11daf8cca06c62737994 |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=AP News |language=en}} He issued this warning after personally visiting and clearing out a Los Angeles homeless encampment without notifying the city beforehand.{{Cite news |date=August 8, 2024 |title=Newsom Clears Homeless Camps in L.A. County, Where He Wants More 'Urgency' |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/08/us/newsom-homeless-los-angeles.html |last1=Hubler |first1=Shawn }}

{{further|California Water Plan}}

Newsom supports a series of tentative water-sharing agreements that would bring an end to the dispute between farmers, cities, fishers, and environmentalists over how much water should be left in the state's two most important rivers, the Sacramento and San Joaquin, which flow into the Delta.{{cite news|url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/water-and-drought/article238511218.html|title=Gov. Newsom's threat to sue Trump upends peace talks on California water wars|last1=Sabalow|first1=Ryan|date=December 19, 2019|work=Sacramento Bee|access-date=December 20, 2019|last2=Kasler|first2=Dale|archive-date=January 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106145420/https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/water-and-drought/article238511218.html|url-status=live}}

{{further|California genocide}}

In a speech before representatives of Native Americans in June 2019, Newsom apologized for the genocide of Native Americans approved and abetted by the California state government upon statehood in the 19th century. By one estimate, at least 4,500 Native Californians were killed between 1849 and 1870.{{cite web|url=http://www2.learncalifornia.org/doc.asp?id=1933 |title=Minorities During the Gold Rush |publisher=California Secretary of State |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201074206/http://www2.learncalifornia.org/doc.asp?id=1933 |archive-date=February 1, 2014 }} Newsom said, "That's what it was, a genocide. No other way to describe it. And that's the way it needs to be described in the history books."{{cite news | last =Cowan | first =Jill | title ='It's Called Genocide': Newsom Apologizes to the State's Native Americans | newspaper =The New York Times | date =June 19, 2019 | url =https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/19/us/newsom-native-american-apology.html | access-date =June 20, 2019 | archive-date =May 6, 2021 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20210506120106/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/19/us/newsom-native-american-apology.html | url-status =live }} In October 2024, Newsom signed AB 3074, the "California Racial Mascots Act", which bans derogatory Native American mascots and team names at K-12 schools. Schools run by recognized Native American tribes are exempt.{{cite news | last =Walker | first =Jackson | title =California bans 'derogatory' Native American mascots, team names at public schools

| newspaper =KRCR-TV | date =October 4, 2024 | url =https://krcrtv.com/news/local/california-bans-derogatory-native-american-mascots-team-names-at-public-schools-gavin-newsom-california-racial-mascots-act-education-k-12-sports-teams| access-date =October 4, 2024 | archive-date =October 4, 2024 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20241004132700/https://krcrtv.com/news/local/california-bans-derogatory-native-american-mascots-team-names-at-public-schools-gavin-newsom-california-racial-mascots-act-education-k-12-sports-teams | url-status =live }}

{{broader|LGBT rights in California}}

In September 2022, Newsom made California the first sanctuary state for transgender youth,{{Cite web |last=Riedel |first=Samantha |date=September 30, 2022 |title=California Is Officially the First Sanctuary State for Trans Youth |url=https://www.them.us/story/california-sanctuary-state-trans-youth-gavin-newsom/ |access-date=September 23, 2023 |language=en-US}} proclaimed June 2023 LGBTQ+ Pride Month in California,{{Cite web |date=June 1, 2023 |title=Governor Newsom Proclaims LGBTQ+ Pride Month 2023 |url=https://www.gov.ca.gov/2023/06/01/governor-newsom-proclaims-lgbtq-pride-month-2023/ |access-date=September 23, 2023 |language=en-US}} and issued a fine of $1.5 million to a school district whose board rejected a curriculum including a biography of Harvey Milk, a Californian gay rights leader.{{Cite web |last=Lozano |first=Alicia |date=July 23, 2023 |title=California to fine school district $1.5 million for rejecting materials mentioning Harvey Milk. |website=NBC News |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/california-fine-school-district-15-million-rejecting-materials-mention-rcna95229 |access-date=September 23, 2023 |language=en-US}} But he also vetoed several bills, passed by the Assembly by a wide margin, one of which would have instructed judges who preside over custody battles to take a parent's affirmation of a child's gender identity into account, and another of which would have mandated that insurance plans serving California residents cover the cost of gender-affirming care.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/AB-1432-Veto.pdf |title=To the Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 1432 without my signature |publisher=Office of the Governor |date=October 7, 2023 |access-date=January 14, 2025}}{{Cite web |last=Childs |first=Jeremy |date=July 23, 2023 |title=Newsom vetoes bill requiring custody hearings consider affirmation of child's gender identity |website=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-09-23/newsom-vetoes-bill-requiring-custody-hearings-consider-affirmation-of-childs-gender-identity |access-date=September 23, 2023 |language=en-US}} In 2024, Newsom signed a bill into law that prohibits schools from notifying parents about a minor student's gender identity without the student's consent. The law was criticized by parents, conservative organizations, and Republican legislators, who argued that it undermines locally elected school officials' authority and restricts parents' rights by limiting their access to information about their children's education and well-being. Proponents of the law argue that it protects students' privacy rights and that it protects them from harm they may face if they do not feel safe coming out at home.{{Cite web |last=Mays |first=Mackenzie |date=2024-07-15 |title=Newsom signs bill banning schools from notifying parents about student gender identity |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-07-15/newsom-bans-schools-from-requiring-that-parents-are-notified-about-student-gender-identity |access-date=2024-08-27 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

In October 2023, Newsom vetoed a bill to ban discrimination based on caste, calling it "unnecessary". Many Hindu rights organizations applauded the veto, saying the bill "would have put a target on hundreds of thousands of Californians simply because of their ethnicity or their religious identity". Advocates for the rights of Dalits and other "violently oppressed" castes sharply criticized the veto.{{cite web | url=https://apnews.com/article/california-caste-discrimination-ban-newsom-veto-eef696fa2e28476d566aa2f9ef3f1997 | title=California governor vetoes bill that would have banned caste discrimination | website=Associated Press News | date=October 7, 2023 }}{{Cite web |title=California governor vetoes bill to ban caste discrimination |website=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/california-governor-vetoes-bill-ban-caste-discrimination-2023-10-07/ |access-date=2024-11-14}}{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/07/us/california-caste-discrimination.html | title=Newsom Vetoes Bill Banning Caste Discrimination | work=The New York Times | date=October 7, 2023 | last1=Qin | first1=Amy }}

In October 2023, Newsom vetoed a bill to provide unemployment insurance to striking workers, citing excess burden on the state's unemployment system.{{Cite news |title=California governor vetoes bill offering unemployment pay to strikers |newspaper=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/california-governor-vetoes-bill-offering-unemployment-pay-strikers-2023-10-01/ |access-date=2024-11-14}}{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/30/us/newsom-veto-unemployment-pay-strikes.html | title=Newsom Vetoes Bill Allowing Workers to Collect Unemployment Pay While Striking | work=The New York Times | date=October 2023 | last1=Hubler | first1=Shawn }} He also vetoed a bill to expand the mandatory warning given to soon to be laid off employees from 60 days to 75, extend the same protections to long-term contract workers, and prohibit employers from making laid-off employees sign nondisclosure agreements in order to receive severance.{{Cite web |last=DiFeliciantonio |first=Chase |date=2023-10-09 |title=Newsom vetoes layoff notice bill that would have protected contract workers |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/newsom-vetoes-layoff-notice-bill-protected-gig-18392525.php |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en}}

File:Governor Newsom met with Xi Jinping in Beijing 20231025 (1).jpg, October 2023]]

Newsom's first international trip as governor was to El Salvador.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-gavin-newsom-el-salvador-20190328-story.html|title=Newsom will travel to El Salvador next month in first international trip as California governor|last=Luna|first=Taryn|date=March 28, 2019|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=March 28, 2019|archive-date=March 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329002611/https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-gavin-newsom-el-salvador-20190328-story.html|url-status=live}} With nearly 680,000 Salvadoran immigrants living in California, he said that the "state's relationship with Central America is key to California's future".{{cite news|url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article228950179.html|title=Is Gavin Newsom campaigning in El Salvador? Trip prompts praise, speculation|last=Bollag|first=Sophia|date=April 8, 2019|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|access-date=April 8, 2019|issn=0890-5738|archive-date=April 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408095837/https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article228950179.html|url-status=live}} He was also concerned about the tens of thousands of Salvadorans who were fleeing the smallest country in Central America for the U.S. each year.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-gavin-newsom-el-salvador-trip-20190407-story.html|title=Newsom seeks to counter Trump as he makes world stage debut in El Salvador|last=Luna|first=Taryn|date=April 8, 2019|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=April 8, 2019|archive-date=April 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408054100/https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-gavin-newsom-el-salvador-trip-20190407-story.html|url-status=live}} As governor of a state impacted by the debate of illegal immigration, he went to see the factors driving it firsthand, and to build business and tourism partnerships between California and Central America. He said he wanted to "ignite a more enlightened engagement and dialogue".{{cite news|url=http://www.capradio.org/133069|title=Mission Accomplished? Scoring Newsom's Trip To El Salvador|last1=Aguilera|first1=Elizabeth|last2=Christopher|first2=Ben|date=April 13, 2019|work=Capital Public Radio|access-date=April 14, 2019|archive-date=April 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414221934/http://www.capradio.org/133069|url-status=live}}

On October 20, 2023, Newsom visited Israel to express solidarity with the country during the Gaza war.{{cite news |title=California Gov. Newsom's Israel visit draws support and criticism, supporters of Palestinians gather at Capitol |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/governor-visit-to-israel-draws-support-criticism/ |work=CBS News |date=October 20, 2023}} He met with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli president Isaac Herzog, other top Israeli officials, and survivors of the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel.{{cite news |title=Newsom: Israel-Hamas war 'not intellectual any longer' |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/10/23/newsom-israel-hamas-war-not-intellectual-any-longer-00122967 |work=Politico |date=October 23, 2023}}

In October 2023, Newsom embarked on a week-long visit to China.{{Cite web |last1=Gardiner |first1=Dustin |last2=Korte |first2=Lara |date=2023-10-31 |title=Newsom's only stumble in China |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-playbook/2023/10/31/newsoms-only-stumble-in-china-00124408 |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=POLITICO |language=en}} It began in Hong Kong, where he attended a discussion at the University of Hong Kong about climate change. He then traveled to Beijing, where he met with Chinese president Xi Jinping, discussing issues including climate change, trade relations, and the response to fentanyl production.{{Cite news |date=2023-10-30 |title=California's Newsom Wraps Up China Trip With Tesla Factory Visit |language=en |work=Bloomberg News |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-30/california-s-newsom-wraps-up-china-trip-with-tesla-factory-visit |access-date=2023-11-09}} The visit also included stops in Guangdong, Jiangsu and Shanghai. He called for better relations between the U.S. and China during the trip, saying that "divorce is not an option" for the two countries.{{Cite news |last1=Toh |first1=Michelle |last2=Lilieholm |first2=Lucas |date=26 October 2023 |title='Divorce is not an option' for US and China, Newsom says after Xi meeting |work=CNN |url=https://edition.cnn.com/newsom-xi-meeting-us-china-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=9 November 2023}}

File:California Republic Inauguration 2023 at the Plaza de California 3.jpg

Many journalists and political analysts have mentioned Newsom as a presidential hopeful. According to a June 2023 poll by NewsNation, 22% of California voters wanted Newsom to enter the 2024 presidential election.{{Cite news |date=June 9, 2023 |title=Newsom making headlines, but analysts skeptical of 2024 run |url=https://www.newsnationnow.com/politics/newsom-making-headlines-but-analysts-skeptical-of-2024-run/ |access-date=July 13, 2023 |website=NewsNation |language=en-US}} In May 2023, Schwarzenegger said it was a "no-brainer" that Newsom would someday run for president.{{Cite news |last=Pengelly |first=Martin |date=May 16, 2023 |title=Gavin Newsom presidential run is 'no-brainer', Arnold Schwarzenegger says |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/may/16/gavin-newsom-presidential-run-2024-arnold-schwarzenegger |access-date=July 13, 2023 |issn=0261-3077}} An April 2023 article published in The Hill by journalist Sharon Udasin also discussed the inevitability of a Newsom presidential run.{{Cite web |last=Udasin |first=Sharon |date=April 10, 2023 |title=Will Gavin Newsom run for president? Experts say it's not if, but when. |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/3939743-will-gavin-newsom-run-for-president-experts-say-its-not-if-but-when/ |access-date=July 13, 2023 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}} In September 2022, Newsom said that he would not run for president in 2024, citing his "vulnerable" 2021 recall.{{Cite web |last=Balevic |first=Katie |title=Gavin Newsom says he is definitely not running for president in 2024 after his 'vulnerable' 2021 recall |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/gavin-newsom-definitely-not-running-for-president-in-2024-2022-9 |access-date=July 13, 2023 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}} After his 2022 reelection, he informed White House staff that he would not challenge President Biden in the Democratic primaries;{{Cite web |date=November 26, 2022 |title=Newsom Told the White House He Won't Challenge Biden |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/26/gavin-newsom-wont-challenge-joe-biden-00070829 |access-date=July 13, 2023 |website=POLITICO |language=en}} he endorsed Biden's reelection campaign on April 25, 2023.{{Cite web |last=Daunt |first=Tina |date=April 25, 2023 |title=Gavin Newsom Shelves Own Presidential Ambitions, Endorses Joe Biden Reelection Run {{!}} Exclusive |url=https://www.thewrap.com/gavin-newsom-presidential-run-endorses-joe-biden-reelection/ |access-date=July 13, 2023 |language=en-US}}

Newsom has become an outspoken critic of the policies of Florida governor Ron DeSantis, denouncing DeSantis's orchestration of the Martha's Vineyard migrant airlift.{{Cite web |last=Mueller |first=Julia |date=June 5, 2023 |title=Newsom calls DeSantis a 'small, pathetic man' amid questions over migrant flight |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4035142-newsom-calls-desantis-a-small-pathetic-man-amid-questions-over-migrant-flight/ |access-date=July 13, 2023 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}} DeSantis responded by saying California has "huge problems" and dared Newsom to run against Biden.{{Cite web |last=Galt |first=Claire |date=June 20, 2023 |title=Political scientist speculates on DeSantis-Newsom feud |url=https://winknews.com/2023/06/20/political-scientist-speculates-on-desantis-newsom-feud/ |access-date=July 13, 2023 |website=WINK News |language=en-US}} In November 2023, the two debated, with Fox News's Sean Hannity as moderator.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-30 |title=Governors Ron DeSantis, Gavin Newsom to face off in unusual debate today - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ron-desantis-gavin-newsom-debate-today/ |access-date=2023-11-30 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}

In July 2024, Newsom launched a podcast, Politickin', co-hosted by Marshawn Lynch and Doug Hendrickson.{{Cite news | last=Robertson | first=Nick | date=July 3, 2024 |title= Newsom launching podcast with former NFL star Marshawn Lynch |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/4753790-newsom-marshawn-lynch-podcast/ | access-date=2024-07-28 |language=en-US}} After Biden's sudden withdrawal from the presidential race that month, Newsom said he would not seek the Democratic nomination, and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president.{{Cite news |last1=Gamio |first1=Lazaro |last2=Keefe |first2=John |last3=Kim |first3=June |last4=McFadden |first4=Alyce |last5=Park |first5=Andrew |last6=Yourish |first6=Karen |date=2024-07-22 |title=Many Elected Democrats Quickly Endorsed Kamala Harris. See Who Did. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/07/22/us/politics/kamala-harris-democrats-endorsement-list.html |access-date=2024-07-22 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

After Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election, Newsom called for California lawmakers to convene later in 2024 to safeguard California's policies from the upcoming Trump administration.{{Cite news |last=Nguyen |first=Tran |date=2024-11-07 |title=California governor calls special session to protect liberal policies from Trump presidency |url=https://apnews.com/article/california-donald-trump-gavin-newsom-special-session-32511d5887409d68d692e094ed50a272 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241107195328/https://apnews.com/article/california-donald-trump-gavin-newsom-special-session-32511d5887409d68d692e094ed50a272 |archive-date=2024-11-07 |access-date=2024-11-07 |work=Associated Press}}

In December 2024, Newsom criticized Biden for pardoning his son Hunter Biden.{{Cite web |last=Cadelago |first=Christopher |date=2024-12-03 |title=Newsom becomes the most prominent Dem to break with Biden over son's pardon |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/12/03/newsom-hunter-biden-pardon-00192447 |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}{{Cite web |last= |last2= |last3= |last4= |date=2024-12-04 |title=Newsom and Schiff sharply criticize president for pardoning Hunter Biden |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-12-03/newsom-and-schiff-sharply-criticize-hunter-biden-pardon |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} He said, "I'm disappointed and can't support the decision."{{Cite web |date=2024-12-04 |title=Gov. Newsom says he's 'disappointed' in President Biden's decision to pardon his son Hunter |url=https://www.ksby.com/politics/gov-newsom-says-hes-disappointed-in-president-bidens-decision-to-pardon-his-son-hunter |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=KSBY News |language=en}}

In anticipation of a potential 2028 presidential campaign, Newsom has adjusted his political approach to appeal to a broader electorate. A key shift in his strategy has been his engagement with conservative voices, including hosting figures like Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon on his podcast, This is Gavin Newsom.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-13 |title=Andy Beshear hits Newsom for hosting Bannon on his new podcast |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/13/beshear-newsom-bannon-podcast-00230516 |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=John |first=Arit |date=2025-03-09 |title=Newsom becomes most prominent Democrat to buck the party and echo majority public opinion on trans athletes {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/09/politics/gavin-newsom-democrats-trans-athletes/index.html |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=CNN |language=en}}

File:Gavin Newsom and Jennifer Siebel at the 2008 Gay Parade.jpg at the 2008 San Francisco Pride parade]]

Newsom was baptized and raised in his father's Catholic faith. In 2008, he described himself as an "Irish Catholic rebel{{nbsp}}... in some respects, but one that still has tremendous admiration for the Church and very strong faith"; when asked about the state of the Catholic Church, Newsom said it was in crisis. He said he stays with the Church because of his "strong connection to a greater purpose, and to sort of a higher being". Newsom identifies as a practicing Catholic,{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/SAN-FRANCISCO-Mayor-deflects-chatter-on-social-2540469.php|title=Down by the Bay/A blues story with all the requisite elements: love, booze and death|first=Rachel|last=Gordon|work=The San Francisco Chronicle|date=March 3, 2006|access-date=May 13, 2025|archive-date=June 18, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060618200120/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/03/03/BAGFQHHR221.DTL|url-status=live|url-access=limited}} saying in 2008 that he has a "strong sense of faith that is perennial, day in and day out".

In December 2001, Newsom married legal commentator Kimberly Guilfoyle at Saint Ignatius Catholic Church.{{cite news|title='New Kennedys' or not, focus is on city's first couple|first=Leah|last=Garchik|date=August 5, 2004|work=San Francisco Chronicle|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/08/05/DDGIG826VT1.DTL|access-date=March 10, 2008|archive-date=August 23, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040823103347/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/08/05/DDGIG826VT1.DTL|url-status=live|url-access=limited}} They separated in 2004 and jointly filed for divorce in January 2005, citing "difficulties due to their careers on opposite coasts".{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/matier-ross/article/Newsom-wife-decide-to-end-3-year-marriage-3324582.php|title=Newsom, wife decide to end 3-year marriage|author1=Phillip Matier|author2=Andrew Ross|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=January 6, 2005|access-date=May 14, 2025|archive-date=January 24, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050124024415/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/01/06/MNGJ1ALTGV1.DTL|url-status=live|url-access=limited}} Their divorce was finalized on February 28, 2006, by which time Guilfoyle was expecting a child with Eric Villency.{{cite news|url=http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/03/10/MNGBAHM73D5.DTL&hw=guilfoyle&sn=004&sc=462|work=The San Francisco Chronicle|first=Rachel|last=Gordon|title=Gavin and Kimberly are officially divorced|date=June 24, 2011|access-date=February 11, 2022|archive-date=July 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715190952/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2006%2F03%2F10%2FMNGBAHM73D5.DTL&hw=guilfoyle&sn=004&sc=462|url-status=live}} Guilfoyle gained prominence in 2011 via a Fox News chat show.{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/340090-kimberly-guilfoyle-rumored-spicer-replacement-signs-long-term-fox-news-deal/ |title=Kimberly Guilfoyle, rumored Spicer replacement, signs long-term Fox News deal |work=The Hill |date= June 29, 2017|access-date=July 5, 2022}} She was later named senior advisor to Republican president Donald Trump, whom Newsom has extensively criticized, and was later engaged to Donald Trump Jr.{{Cite news |last=Marr |first=Madeline |date=July 16, 2016 |title='When's the wedding?' Donald Trump Jr. posts about anniversary, and folks had questions |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/miami-com/miami-com-news/article288006130.html |work=Miami Herald}}

In September 2006, Newsom, then 38, briefly dated 19-year-old Brittanie Mountz, a model and restaurant hostess.{{Cite web |date=2006-10-18 |title=Mayor McHottie's New Girlfriend -- Half His Age |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=2581600&page=1 |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=ABC News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last1=Matier |first1=Phillip |last2=Ross |first2=Andrew |date=2006-10-15 |title=Has the mayor's new girlfriend, who is only 20, been drinking? |url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/matier-ross/article/Has-the-mayor-s-new-girlfriend-who-is-only-20-2468236.php |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=SFGATE |language=en}} On January 31, 2007, Newsom's close friend, campaign manager, and former chief of staff Alex Tourk confronted him after learning from his wife, Ruby Rippey-Tourk, that she and Newsom had an affair in 2005, when she was Newsom's appointments secretary. Tourk immediately resigned.{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/AIDE-QUITS-AS-NEWSOM-S-AFFAIR-WITH-HIS-WIFE-IS-2652745.php|title=Aide Quits As Newsom's Affair With His Wife Is Revealed/Campaign manager confronts mayor, who is 'in shock'|author1=Phil Matier|author2=Andrew Ross|author3=Cecilia M. Vega|work=The San Francisco Chronicle|date=January 31, 2007|access-date=November 6, 2010|archive-date=February 14, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070214111250/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/02/01/MNGM8NSSD91.DTL|url-status=live|url-access=limited}} Newsom admitted to the affair the next day and apologized to the public, saying he was "deeply sorry" for his "personal lapse of judgment".{{cite news|last1=Laura Locke|title=The Scandal of San Francisco|url=http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1585094,00.html|access-date=October 30, 2017|magazine=Time|date=February 2, 2007|quote=Alex Tourk, Newsom's buddy and campaign manager, abruptly quit after confronting the mayor about having an illicit affair with his wife, who once worked as an appointment secretary to Newsom.|archive-date=October 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009211248/http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1585094,00.html|url-status=live}} In 2018, Rippey-Tourk said that she thought it wrong to associate Newsom's behavior with the #MeToo movement: "I was a subordinate, but I was also a free-thinking, 33-yr old adult married woman and mother. I do want to make sure that the #metoo movement is reserved for cases and situations that deserve it."{{cite news|last1=Mehta|first1=Seema|last2=Willon|first2=Phil|date=February 8, 2018|title=Former aide to Gavin Newsom speaks out about their affair while he was San Francisco mayor|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-governors-race-gavin-newsom-affair-20180207-story.html|url-status=live|access-date=June 17, 2021|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|archive-date=June 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624195947/https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-governors-race-gavin-newsom-affair-20180207-story.html}}

Newsom began dating film director Jennifer Siebel in October 2006. He announced he would seek treatment for alcohol use disorder in February 2007.{{cite news|title=Newsom seeks treatment for alcohol abuse|date=February 5, 2007|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|url=http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Newsom-seeks-treatment-for-alcohol-abuse-2619195.php|first=Heather|last=Knight|access-date=November 26, 2012|archive-date=October 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024050600/http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Newsom-seeks-treatment-for-alcohol-abuse-2619195.php|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/11/LVGL7OGFJ31.DTL|title=Girlfriend, uninterrupted/Actress Jennifer Siebel is standing by her man, who happens to be Mayor Gavin Newsom, and says there's no trouble in their romance|author=Heather Maddan|work=The San Francisco Chronicle|date=March 11, 2007|access-date=March 10, 2008|archive-date=March 4, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080304054220/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2007%2F03%2F11%2FLVGL7OGFJ31.DTL|url-status=live}} The couple announced their engagement in December 2007,{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/31/BANDU7IAK.DTL|title=S.F. Mayor Newsom engaged to be married|author=Carolyne Zinko|work=The San Francisco Chronicle|date=January 1, 2008|access-date=March 10, 2008|archive-date=December 8, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208234730/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2007%2F12%2F31%2FBANDU7IAK.DTL|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/25/BAJI10SFOI.DTL&hw=siebel+newsom&sn=001&sc=1000|title=Newsom, Siebel plan Montana wedding in July|author=Matier and Ross|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=May 25, 2008|access-date=June 22, 2008|archive-date=December 8, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208234828/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2008%2F05%2F25%2FBAJI10SFOI.DTL&hw=siebel+newsom&sn=001&sc=1000|url-status=live}} and they were married in Stevensville, Montana, in July 2008.{{cite web|first=Michael Y.|last=Park|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20215158,00.html|title=San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom Weds|department=Weddings|work=People|date=July 26, 2008|access-date=November 18, 2010|archive-date=January 8, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110108205634/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20215158,00.html}} They have four children.{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/18/BAEC15VO5O.DTL&tsp=1|title=And baby makes three for the Newsoms|author=The City Insider|work=The San Francisco Chronicle|date=February 18, 2009|access-date=February 19, 2009|archive-date=February 22, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090222025843/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2009%2F02%2F18%2FBAEC15VO5O.DTL&tsp=1|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://sfist.com/2013/07/05/third_newsom_offspring_birthed_on_w.php|title=Newsom Clan Adds Third Offspring|author=Andrew Dalton|work=SFist.com|date=July 5, 2013|access-date=July 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130710015435/http://sfist.com/2013/07/05/third_newsom_offspring_birthed_on_w.php|archive-date=July 10, 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/02/28/gavin-newsoms-new-baby-named-after-town-of-dutch-flat|title=Gavin Newsom's New Baby Named After Town of Dutch Flat|work=The Mercury News|date=February 28, 2016|access-date=September 12, 2016|archive-date=September 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921061144/http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/02/28/gavin-newsoms-new-baby-named-after-town-of-dutch-flat/|url-status=live}}

After he completed service as mayor of San Francisco in 2011, Newsom and his family moved to a house they bought in Kentfield in Marin County in 2012.{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/29/gavin-newsom-buys-house-in-marin_n_1119560.html|work=Huffington Post|first=Robin|last=Wilkey|title=Gavin Newsom Buys House In Marin County|date=November 29, 2011|access-date=March 6, 2012|archive-date=February 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228192122/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/29/gavin-newsom-buys-house-in-marin_n_1119560.html|url-status=live}} After his election as governor, Newsom and his family moved into the California Governor's Mansion in Downtown Sacramento and thereafter settled in Fair Oaks.{{cite news|url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/business/article231053328.html|work=The Sacramento Bee|first=Andrew|last=Sheeler|title=More Bay Area transplants: Gavin Newsom bought Sacramento's most expensive home in 2019|date=May 31, 2019|access-date=April 5, 2020|archive-date=May 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200505083625/https://www.sacbee.com/news/business/article231053328.html|url-status=live}} In May 2019, The Sacramento Bee reported that Newsom's $3.7 million purchase of a 12,000-square-foot home in Fair Oaks was the most expensive private residence sold in the Sacramento region since the year began.

In August 2021, Newsom sold a Marin County home for $5.9 million in an off-market transaction. He had originally put the property up for sale in early 2019 for $5.895 million, but removed the property from the market after a price reduction to $5.695 million.{{cite web|date=August 23, 2021|title=Photos: Amid recall madness, Gavin Newsom sells Marin County home in lucrative $5.9 million off-market deal|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/08/23/photos-amid-recall-madness-gavin-newsom-sells-marin-county-home-in-lucrative-5-9-million-off-market-deal|access-date=September 2, 2021 |website=The Mercury News|archive-date=September 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903145331/https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/08/23/photos-amid-recall-madness-gavin-newsom-sells-marin-county-home-in-lucrative-5-9-million-off-market-deal/|url-status=live}}

Newsom is the godfather of designer, model, and LGBTQ rights activist Nats Getty.{{cite news |last=Varian |first=Ethan |date=July 20, 2019 |title=At the Wedding of Gigi Gorgeous and Nats Getty |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/20/fashion/weddings/gigi-gorgeous-nats-getty-wedding.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713045508/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/20/fashion/weddings/gigi-gorgeous-nats-getty-wedding.html |archive-date=July 13, 2021 |access-date=September 24, 2020 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |last=Reginato |first=James |date=2022-07-08 |title=Book Excerpt: How A Branch of the Getty Family Became LGBTQ Icons |url=https://lamag.com/lahistory/book-excerpt-how-a-branch-of-the-getty-family-became-lgbtq-icons |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=LAmag - Culture, Food, Fashion, News & Los Angeles |language=en}}

In 2023, Newsom launched Campaign for Democracy, a PAC to take on "authoritarian leaders" in the U.S. It is thought to be a starting point for a possible 2028 presidential bid.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-30 |title=California's Newsom starts tour to boost red-state Democrats |url=https://apnews.com/article/california-governor-newsom-president-democrats-2024-843877ca6aca701a5a68b8cb022203a2 |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=AP News |language=en}}

As of July 2024, Campaign for Democracy has raised $24 million for direct contributions to candidates and other spending.{{Cite news |last=Yu |first=Alexei Koseff, Yue Stella |date=2024-07-10 |title=Gavin Newsom for president? Tallying up his assets and liabilities |url=https://calmatters.org/politics/elections/2024/07/gavin-newsom-for-president-assets-liabilities/ |access-date=2024-09-20 |work=CalMatters |language=en-US}} The group is not subject to contribution limits, but it can coordinate with Newsom as long as he is not a candidate for federal office.{{Cite web |last=Lightman |first=David |title=Are Gavin Newsom backers raising money for a possible Democratic presidential bid? |url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article285811206.html |website=The Sacramento Bee}}

• Gavin Newsom (2013; co-authored with Lisa Dickey). Citizenville: How to Take the Town Square Digital and Reinvent Government. London: Penguin Group. {{ISBN|978-0-1431-2447-4}}. {{oclc|995575939}}.

• Electoral history of Gavin Newsom

{{reflist}}

{{Sister project links|s=Author:Gavin Christopher Newsom|d=Q461391|n=Category:Gavin Newsom|c=Category:Gavin Newsom|wikt=no|species=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|q=Gavin Newsom}}

• [https://www.gov.ca.gov Governor Gavin Newsom] official government website
• [https://twitter.com/GavinNewsom Gavin Newsom on Twitter] official personal Twitter account
• [https://twitter.com/cagovernor Office of the Governor of California] official governor Twitter account
• [https://gavinnewsom.com/ Gavin Newsom for Governor] campaign website
• [http://www.citymayors.com/mayors/sanfrancisco_mayor.html CityMayors profile about Gavin Newsom]

{{CongLinks|votesmart=70386}}

• {{C-SPAN|1010790}}
• [https://www.ontheissues.org/Gavin_Newsom.htm Gavin Newsom] at On the Issues

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