Newsom Moves to Commute All 548 California Death Sentences

Governor announces clemency move

November 5, 2026 · 2:32 p.m. Central / 12:32 p.m. Pacific

California Gov. Gavin Newsom says he is moving to commute the death sentences of all 548 people currently facing execution in the state, replacing them with life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Many of the proposed commutations still require state Supreme Court approval. Newsom’s office says 382 cases need that review because the people involved have more than one felony conviction, The Associated Press reported. The announcement does not mean every sentence has already changed.

In an open letter, Newsom described the decision as difficult and said he believes the death penalty is incompatible with the state’s values. He acknowledged the pain the decision could bring to victims’ families.

What a commutation does — and does not do

A commutation reduces or changes a sentence; it does not erase a conviction. Newsom’s stated alternative is life without parole, not release from prison.

Under California law, the governor cannot grant clemency to someone with more than one felony conviction without the state Supreme Court’s approval, the governor’s office explains. The court’s review means the outcome for many cases remains unresolved.

The move does not repeal California’s death penalty. Voters rejected a proposal to abolish it in 2016, and prosecutors can continue to seek death sentences, according to The Marshall Project.

Years of debate over executions

Newsom imposed a moratorium on executions in 2019. California’s last execution was in 2006, according to The Guardian. People nevertheless remained under death sentences while the moratorium was in place.

The American Civil Liberties Union praised the action, citing concerns about racial bias and errors in capital punishment, AP reported. Critics including former Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert had urged Newsom not to grant blanket commutations, citing the effect on victims’ families, the San Francisco Chronicle reported before the announcement.

The Marshall Project also noted that some condemned prisoners and advocates have raised concerns about the loss of legal resources for appeals after a sentence is changed. The effect can differ by case.

Where the decision applies

The star marks Sacramento, the state capital, for geographic context. The policy applies statewide.

★ Approximate Sacramento area. Map data: OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Open map.

How California reached this point

Dates are California local time.

2006 California carried out its most recent execution, according to The Guardian.
2016 Voters rejected a ballot measure to repeal the death penalty, AP reported.
2019 Newsom imposed a moratorium on executions.
November 5, 2026 Newsom announced the move affecting 548 death sentences; many cases require court approval.