Gavin Newsom

Gavin Newsom, the son of an esteemed appellate court judge, hails from an illustrious San Francisco family, replete with a rich history and heritage. As a distinguished alumnus of Santa Clara University, he graduated in 1989, setting the stage for a prosperous entrepreneurial journey. The Getty family's generous loan enabled him to launch the PlumpJack Wine Shop in 1992, a venture that would eventually flourish into a multi-million dollar empire, boasting a diverse array of enterprises, including restaurants, theaters, a wine label, and a hotel/ski resort. Prior to his mayoral tenure, Newsom served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from 1996 to 2004, where he garnered widespread recognition for his groundbreaking "Care Not Cash" initiative, a pioneering effort to overhaul the city's homeless policy by significantly reducing cash benefits to the homeless. This bold reform aimed to redirect resources towards more effective and sustainable solutions, ultimately enhancing the overall well-being of the city's most vulnerable populations. Newsom's remarkable leadership and vision earned him the distinction of becoming the 42nd mayor of San Francisco in 2004, a position he held with great distinction, making him the youngest mayor of that city in over a century. In February 2004, his administration made national headlines when he authorized same-sex couples to obtain marriage licenses, a landmark decision that contributed to the growing momentum towards greater LGBTQ+ equality and acceptance.