Gavin Newsom Recounts Witnessing Mother's Assisted Death

The California governor's new memoir details his mother's terminal illness and her decision to end her life.

Feb. 5, 2026 at 5:31pm by Ben Kaplan

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In a new interview, California Governor Gavin Newsom recounted the events surrounding his mother Tessa's death in 2002. Newsom, then 34 and a San Francisco supervisor, said his mother called him with a voicemail saying she planned to end her life the following Thursday due to her terminal cancer diagnosis. Newsom did not try to dissuade her from this decision.

Why it matters

Newsom's personal account of his mother's assisted death raises complex ethical and legal questions around end-of-life choices, particularly in cases of terminal illness. It also provides a rare glimpse into the private life of a high-profile political figure.

The details

According to the Washington Post interview, Newsom's mother Tessa called him in the spring of 2002 to say she planned to end her life the following Thursday due to her terminal cancer diagnosis. Newsom, then 34 and a San Francisco supervisor, did not try to talk her out of this decision. He went to see her before she died.

  • In the spring of 2002, Tessa Newsom called her son Gavin to say she planned to end her life the following Thursday.

The players

Gavin Newsom

The current Governor of California who, at the time, was a 34-year-old San Francisco supervisor.

Tessa Newsom

Gavin Newsom's mother, who was terminally ill with cancer.

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The takeaway

Newsom's account of his mother's assisted death highlights the complex ethical and legal issues surrounding end-of-life choices, particularly in cases of terminal illness. It also provides a rare personal glimpse into the life of a high-profile political figure.