Lieutenant governor Gavin Newsom has rock star friends, his own clubs and a progressive agenda that got his state’s landmark Proposition 64 legislation passed — and the music industry rallying behind him
IF THE CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC party could magically conjure up a rising star, that candidate might look a lot like Gavin Newsom. The 49-year-old lieutenant governor of the state is warm and articulate, an earnest progressive who’s approachable on national TV — take the time last June when, while appearing alongside Wiz Khalifa on Chelsea Handler’s Netflix show, the rapper dapped him in solidarity. He’s a successful entrepreneur who owns 23 businesses — a San Francisco club, wineries, restaurants — and hobnobs with rock stars, hanging backstage at The Fillmore recently with Sammy Hagar and John Mayer. And he’s a photographer’s dream, with a winning smile and sharp suit always at the ready, a beautiful wife (actress-filmmaker Jennifer Siebel) and four adorable children.
This past November, Newsom also proved he’s a serious force to reckon with when it comes to passing groundbreaking legislation. Having started California’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy in 2014, he campaigned for five months and got Proposition 64, legalizing adult use of marijuana in the state, passed, with 56 percent of voters in favor. Now, he’s the telegenic face of a movement. “I’m happy to be associated with this change. I’m sick and tired of politics and politicians as usual,” says Newsom today. “I’ll be kicked out before I rust out. You can love me or hate me and disagree with me, but you sure as hell know where I stand.”
“Gavin boldly stands up for social issues with unwavering commitment while relentlessly championing people who can’t speak for themselves,” says his longtime friend Pat Monahan, the lead singer of Train. “This issue is one of many that Gavin thinks of in a big-picture way. He’s an outlier and a great leader.” And he already has declared that he’s running for governor in 2018.
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