French Laundry dinner during COVID-19 restrictions, 2020
California Governor Gavin Newsom drew criticism after reports that he attended a lobbyist's birthday dinner at the French Laundry restaurant in November 2020 while urging residents not to mix households. He apologized, and AP and The New York Times later described the dinner as a turning point that helped fuel the 2021 recall election, which he survived.
Editorial timeline of public reporting, not a legal finding.
- Attends a birthday dinner at the French Laundry - The Los Angeles Times reported that Newsom and his wife attended a birthday party for political adviser and registered lobbyist Jason Kinney at the Michelin-starred French Laundry in Yountville on Nov. 6, 2020, with people from more than three households, while his administration was warning Californians not to gather with other families for Thanksgiving. The San Francisco Chronicle first reported the dinner. Newsom apologizes for French Laundry dinner amid COVID-19
- Acknowledges the dinner after it becomes public - AP reported that Newsom acknowledged attending the party with a dozen friends after it surfaced, saying in a statement that his family followed the restaurant's health protocols but should have modeled better behavior. AP noted that for months he had pleaded with Californians to avoid socializing outside their households. California governor went to party, violated own virus rules
- Apologizes, calling the dinner a "bad mistake" - At a news conference, Newsom apologized and said he made "a bad mistake" and should have walked back out to his car when he saw how many people were there, the San Francisco Chronicle and AP reported. AP said he had faced severe political backlash since the dinner surfaced. Newsom on French Laundry dinner party: 'I made a bad mistake'
- Survives a recall election that the dinner helped fuel - Reuters and the BBC reported that Newsom defeated the Republican-led recall, with about 64% of voters backing him. AP described the French Laundry dinner as one of two events on the same November day that set the course for the recall, and The New York Times called the dinner an integral part of the recall narrative. California Governor Newsom defeats Republican recall effort