His second term began on January 5, 2015. [129], In September 2020, Newsom signed into law a bill allowing California transgender inmates to be placed in prisons that correspond with their gender identity. He received 41.9% of the vote to Green Party candidate Matt Gonzalez's 19.6% in the first round of balloting, but he faced a closer race in the December 9 runoff, when many of the city's progressive groups supported Gonzalez. After an eight-year tenure as lieutenant governor of California, Newsom ran against republican John H. Cox for the governorship, and won in the 2018 midterm election. But that vastness makes it hard to govern. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has seen a decline in his approval rating and faced bipartisan criticism for his handling of COVID-19 death data in recent weeks. [151] California was the first state in the country to commit to sending mail-in ballots to all registered voters for the November general election. The couple appeared in the September 2004 issue of Harper's Bazaar; the spread had them posed at the Getty Villa with the caption "the New Kennedys". [45] He was reelected on November 6 with over 72% of the vote. On September 14, 2021, he prevailed in a historic recall election that had him battling for his political life . Gavin Newsom beats back GOP-led recall", "Gov. New Hampshire's Republican governor, Chris Sununu, said he believes that President Biden will not be on the ballot in 2024. 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. [122] He pardoned three men who were attempting to avoid being deported to Cambodia or Vietnam in November 2019. All California firms have been taxed at 8.84% since 1997. [33][34], Newsom won the runoff with 53% of the vote to Gonzalez's 47%, a margin of 11,000 votes. [25][26] He was elected to a full four-year term to the board in 1998. SACRAMENTO . 1. [15] Tessa opened their home to foster children, instilling in Newsom the importance of public service. Voters passed the measure on November 4, 2014. Newsom hosted a private fundraiser at his PlumpJack Caf. [10] Newsom's aunt was married to Ron Pelosi, the brother-in-law of then Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi. He won in the general election on November 8, 2022. 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. Governors of California - Gavin Newsom Gavin Newsom 2019-present Significant Facts Born: October 10, 1967 in San Francisco, California Married: Jennifer Siebel on July 26, 2008, in Stevensville, Montana Political Party: Democrat Family Father: William Alfred Newsom III Mother: Tessa Thomas Menzies Wife: Jennifer Siebel Newsom California Governor Election 2022: Gavin Newsom - CalMatters When asked about the state of the Catholic Church in 2008, he said it was in crisis. On February 21, 2020, a recall petition was introduced by Orrin Heatlie, a deputy sheriff in Yolo County. "[252], Newsom's first international trip as governor was to El Salvador. Gavin Newsom was elected governor in 2018 by a wide margin. [192] 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. [190] Bills he signed in September with an environmental focus included a commission to study lithium extraction around the Salton Sea. [81][82] In June 2016, Newsom helped secure $15 million in the state budget to support the creation of promise programs throughout the state. It's been a high-profile first 100 days for California's 40th governor. Gavin Newsom - Wikipedia [223], After Walgreens announced in March 2023 that it would refuse to dispense abortion pills in the 21 states where it is illegal or they could face legal action for doing so, 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." Gavin Newsom", "California Gov. [276], In August 2021, Newsom sold a Marin County home for $5.9 million in an off-market transaction.