Gavin Newsom

[13] Governor of California,[22] previously Lieutenant Governor of California[23] and Mayor of San Francisco.[18]

What is Gavin Newsom known for?

Gavin Christopher Newsom, an alumni of Redwood High School in Larkspur, California, CA, was born on October 10, 1967, in San Francisco, California, U.S. He has had a significant political career serving as the 40th Governor of California since January 7, 2019, after having served as the 49th Lieutenant Governor of California from January 10, 2011 to January 7, 2019, and previously as the 42nd Mayor of San Francisco from January 8, 2004 to January 10, 2011.

Not just a politician, Newsom is also a successful businessman. Upon graduating from Santa Clara University in 1989, he founded the PlumpJack Group, a venture that began as a wine store and eventually expanded to manage 23 businesses including wineries, restaurants, and hotels. His political career took off in 1996 after his appointment to San Francisco's Parking and Traffic Commission by then San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown.

Newsom's political journey included successful runs for office as San Francisco mayor in 2003 and 2007, and as California's lieutenant governor in 2010 and 2014. He also hosted "The Gavin Newsom Show" from 2012 to 2013 and authored the 2013 book "Citizenville," focused on the potential of digital tools for democratic change. Finally, he was elected governor of California in 2018.

However, his tenure as governor was not without controversy. Newsom faced criticism for his personal behavior and leadership style during the COVID-19 pandemic. This culminated in an unsuccessful recall attempt in 2021, although he was reelected in 2022.

Beyond his political and business achievements, Newsom is a fourth-generation San Franciscan with notable family connections. He is a second cousin, twice removed, of musician Joanna Newsom, and his aunt was married to Ron Pelosi, the brother-in-law of the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi. Despite facing the challenges of dyslexia, Newsom was able to overcome the obstacles of his childhood to build a notable personal, business, and public service career.

For More Information, check out Governor Newsom's Government Website