The Long-Term Fallout: Where Are Gavin Newsom's Campaign Manager's Wife And Ex-Aide Now?

Nearly two decades later, the political scandal involving then-San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, his campaign manager Alex Tourk, and Tourk’s wife, Ruby Rippey-Tourk, remains a pivotal moment in California politics, a ghost that occasionally resurfaces in political discourse. While the public memory often focuses on the shock of the affair itself, the true story lies in the long-term career pivots and personal resilience shown by the two people at the center of the fallout: the campaign manager and his wife.

As of December 10, 2025, both Alex Tourk and Ruby Rippey-Gibney (the former Ruby Rippey-Tourk) have successfully moved on from the 2007 controversy, forging new, high-profile careers that showcase their professional acumen outside the shadow of the political world that once defined them. This article details the biographical profiles of the key figures and explores their current professional trajectories in the wake of one of the Bay Area’s most infamous political dramas.

Biographical Profiles: The Key Figures in the 2007 Scandal

The affair that led to the resignation of Gavin Newsom's campaign manager in 2007 involved three prominent figures in San Francisco's political scene. Here is a detailed look at their key roles and professional backgrounds at the time of the controversy and their current status.

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• Gavin Newsom (The Mayor/Governor):
• Role in 2007: Mayor of San Francisco.
• Spouse in 2007: Separated from Kimberly Guilfoyle; dating Jennifer Siebel.
• Current Status: Governor of California, a national figure in the Democratic Party.
• Alex Tourk (The Campaign Manager):
• Role in 2007: Newsom's re-election campaign manager and former Deputy Chief of Staff.
• Background: A seasoned political operative and close friend of Newsom.
• Current Status: Highly successful founder and principal of a major public affairs firm.
• Ruby Rippey-Tourk (Now Ruby Rippey-Gibney) (The Wife/Aide):
• Role in 2007: Newsom's Appointments Secretary (2004–2006).
• Background: Worked within the Mayor's office and was married to Alex Tourk.
• Current Status: Has pivoted to a career outside of politics, reportedly in content management and marketing.

Alex Tourk's Successful Pivot: From Campaign Manager to Public Affairs Mogul

The immediate fallout from the scandal in January 2007 saw Alex Tourk resign from his position as Newsom’s campaign manager after confronting the mayor about the affair with his wife. This event, which could have ended a political career, instead became the catalyst for a major professional reinvention.

Tourk wasted no time in establishing his new path. In the same year, he founded Ground Floor Public Affairs.

Ground Floor is now a highly respected and influential public relations and communications firm based in the Bay Area.

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The firm specializes in creating partnerships between government, business, and community stakeholders, focusing on public policy and corporate campaigns.

This pivot demonstrates Tourk's deep understanding of San Francisco and California politics, allowing him to leverage his experience for clients ranging from corporate sponsors to political candidates.

His current role as Principal of Ground Floor firmly establishes him as a key, successful figure in the state’s public affairs landscape, a clear testament to his ability to thrive outside of the direct political campaign structure.

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Ruby Rippey-Gibney's Life After the Political Spotlight

Ruby Rippey-Tourk, who now goes by Ruby Rippey-Gibney, was the individual whose personal life was thrust into the national media spotlight. She served as Newsom’s appointments secretary from February 2004 to August 2006.

The relationship between an appointments secretary and the Mayor was inherently one of a power imbalance, a dynamic that has been scrutinized in the years since the affair was revealed.

However, in a notable 2018 statement, which resurfaced during Newsom's gubernatorial bid, Rippey-Gibney publicly addressed the nature of the relationship. She stated that while the affair "wrecked her marriage," she was "doubtful" it constituted sexual harassment.

This clarification was a significant moment, as it separated the personal moral failure of the affair from the legal and professional implications of sexual harassment, a distinction she felt compelled to make publicly.

Professionally, Rippey-Gibney has successfully moved away from the intense scrutiny of the political world. She is now reported to be working in the private sector, utilizing her extensive communications and administrative background in a new capacity.

Sources indicate that a "Ruby Gibney" is currently a Content Writer and Manager at Catch Marketing Services, a role that involves corporate and franchise relations and over a decade of experience in content creation and management.

This career shift to a corporate, marketing-focused role highlights a desire to build a new professional life outside the Bay Area's political fishbowl, focusing on a different kind of public engagement.

The Enduring Political Entity of the Scandal

While Alex Tourk and Ruby Rippey-Gibney have built new lives, the 2007 scandal itself remains an enduring entity in California political history, often resurfacing during election cycles to challenge Governor Newsom.

The controversy is frequently cited by political opponents and commentators as a historical example of Newsom’s past "bad judgment" and a complex layer to his biography.

The fact that Newsom was married to former Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle at the time of the affair only added to the drama, creating a web of connections between major political and media figures.

Ultimately, the affair's revelation was a crisis that Newsom survived, though the personal and professional costs to his campaign manager and aide were immediate and profound.

The current success of Alex Tourk's public affairs firm and the quiet, professional pivot of Ruby Rippey-Gibney demonstrate that, for the other two figures involved, the political trauma of 2007 led to a necessary, and ultimately successful, redirection of their careers and lives.