Nearly two decades after her affair with California Governor Gavin Newsom became a major political scandal, Ruby Rippey has publicly shared her side of the story for the first time. In a personal essay published by Vanity Fair, Rippey reflected on the relationship, the personal consequences she faced, and why she decided to speak out now. Her account has renewed attention on one of the most controversial episodes in Newsom’s political career as discussions about his national political future continue.
Ruby Rippey Shares Her Experience
In her essay, Ruby Rippey described how the affair dramatically changed her personal and professional life. She said the public scandal left her struggling to rebuild her life while dealing with addiction and intense media attention.
According to Rippey, she was battling alcohol and substance abuse during that period. She wrote that it took years of recovery and rehabilitation before she was able to regain stability. Today, she says she has been sober for nearly 20 years and wanted to tell her story in her own words rather than allowing others to define it.
She Challenges Parts of Newsom’s Memoir
Rippey also questioned how the affair was described in Gavin Newsom’s recently published memoir.
She disputed the account suggesting that Newsom was the one who first informed her then-husband, Alex Tourk, about the relationship. Rippey said she was actually the person who disclosed the affair to her husband, arguing that some details in the memoir do not reflect what she remembers.
Background of the Scandal
The affair became public in 2007 while Gavin Newsom was serving as the Mayor of San Francisco. Ruby Rippey worked in Newsom’s office, while her then-husband, Alex Tourk, was one of Newsom’s closest political advisers and campaign strategists.
After the relationship became public, Newsom acknowledged the affair and publicly apologized, calling it a serious personal mistake. The revelation generated widespread criticism and became one of the defining controversies of his early political career.
Questions About Workplace Power Dynamics
In her essay, Rippey wrote that while the relationship was consensual, she now believes it cannot be viewed without considering the power imbalance that existed in the workplace.
She explained that as public conversations around workplace misconduct and power dynamics evolved over the years, she began viewing the experience differently. At the same time, Rippey acknowledged that she also bears responsibility for her own decisions.
Kamala Harris’ Advice
Rippey also recalled receiving advice from then-San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris during the aftermath of the scandal.
According to Rippey, Harris encouraged her not to speak publicly until she felt personally ready. She said that advice helped her cope with the intense public scrutiny and media attention surrounding the controversy.
Political Attention Returns
The publication of Rippey’s essay comes as Gavin Newsom remains one of the most closely watched figures in Democratic politics and is frequently mentioned as a potential future presidential contender.
As a result, the nearly 20-year-old scandal has once again entered the political conversation. Reports indicate that Newsom’s office has not issued a detailed response to Rippey’s latest essay and has instead pointed to his previous public statements acknowledging the affair.
Why Ruby Rippey Chose to Speak Now
Rippey said her goal was not to reignite a political controversy but to reclaim her own narrative.
She wrote that the affair has long been discussed primarily as part of Gavin Newsom’s political history, while the impact on her own life received far less attention. After years of recovery and personal reflection, she said she finally felt prepared to tell her story publicly and on her own terms.