Gavin Christopher Newsom, born October 10, 1967, in San Francisco, California, is the 40th Governor of California, having taken office on January 7, 2019. He grew up in San Francisco, graduated from Redwood High School and Santa Clara University, where he studied political science and played baseball on scholarship[1][3][5]. Before entering politics, Newsom built a business empire in hospitality and wine, founding the PlumpJack Group, which grew to include multiple restaurants, wineries, and hotels[6]. Newsom’s political career began in 1996 with an appointment to the San Francisco Parking and Traffic Commission, followed by election to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. In 2004, he was elected mayor of San Francisco, becoming the youngest mayor in over a century. As mayor, he gained national attention in 2004 by ordering the city to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, a bold step ahead of state law. He also implemented the Healthy San Francisco Program, providing universal healthcare access to uninsured residents, and championed other public health initiatives[1][6][7]. In 2010, Newsom was elected Lieutenant Governor of California, serving two terms under Governor Jerry Brown. He won the 2018 gubernatorial election with nearly 62% of the vote, focusing on affordable housing, universal healthcare, and progressive reforms[2][5]. As governor, Newsom led California’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, instituting early and strict public health measures, which drew both support and criticism. He survived a recall election in 2021 and was reelected in 2022[2][5]. Newsom’s administration prioritizes combatting homelessness, enhancing public safety, expanding education access, environmental protection, and social justice issues. He has signed legislation on voter ID laws, consumer protections, eviction safeguards, and made a formal apology to Black Californians for slavery while vetoing reparations legislation[2][4]. He is married to Jennifer Siebel Newsom and has four children[1][4]. Overall, Gavin Newsom is recognized for progressive leadership in areas such as same-sex marriage, healthcare, criminal justice reform, and climate policy, maintaining a high profile as California’s governor.