Governor Newsom Appoints Individuals With Past Panel Resignation Controversy to State Positions
Governor Newsom appointed Nate Ballard and Michela Alioto-Pier, who had resigned from a sexual assault panel over her support for Ballard in a domestic violence case, to state positions in California.
San Francisco Oakland San Jose, CA, November 7, 2026 —
Sacramento, CA – Governor Gavin Newsom has appointed Nate Ballard and Michela Alioto-Pier to state positions in California. The appointments come amid scrutiny related to past actions by both individuals.
Michela Alioto-Pier and Nate Ballard previously resigned from a sexual assault panel. The resignation was reportedly due to Alioto-Pier’s support for Ballard in relation to a domestic violence case. Specific details regarding the timing of the resignations or the domestic violence case were not provided in the information available.
The nature of the state positions to which Ballard and Alioto-Pier have been appointed was not detailed. The timeline for these appointments and the specific roles they will assume were also not immediately available.
The background leading to their departure from the sexual assault panel involves a complex situation where Alioto-Pier’s endorsement of Ballard became a point of contention. This incident preceded their current state appointments.
Further details regarding the functions of their new state roles and the scope of their responsibilities are pending. The governor’s office has not released additional information concerning the appointments or the circumstances surrounding the panel resignations.
Story summarized from the original created by Jennifer Wadsworth on sfstandard.com, see more information here.
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