Ruby Rippey-Gibney, a former aide to then-San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, has detailed their affair in an essay published by Vanity Fair. The relationship, which occurred when Newsom was married to Kimberly Guilfoyle, came to public light in 2007, nearly derailing his political career.
In her essay, Rippey-Gibney describes the affair as an "earth-shaking" event that profoundly impacted Newsom's public life. The scandal led Newsom to confess publicly in a press conference at the time. The revelation occurred early in his political career, and its impact was significant.
Newsom, now the governor of California, has been at the center of political speculation, including discussions of a potential 2028 presidential campaign. Rippey-Gibney's essay resurfaces the details of a period that was a major personal and professional challenge for the governor.