California Governor Gavin Newsom says he will commute the death sentences of all 548 inmates on the state’s death row to life imprisonment without parole. The announcement follows his 2019 moratorium on executions and comes as he approaches the end of his second term, amid speculation about a 2028 presidential campaign.
Newsom said his opposition to capital punishment reflects concerns about justice and the role of government. He argued that suspending executions was insufficient because death sentences remained in place. California last carried out an execution in 2006, during Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s administration. Newsom acknowledged the decision’s substantial consequences.
The commutations would not abolish California’s death penalty. Voters rejected a repeal proposal in 2016, and changing the law remains a matter for lawmakers and voters. Under the state constitution, the California Supreme Court must approve clemency for people with multiple felony convictions, affecting 382 inmates, or roughly 70 percent of those covered.
Supporters include the California Public Defenders Association and the American Civil Liberties Union. Both organizations argue that capital punishment is applied unevenly and disproportionately affects racial minorities. Public defenders also pointed to differences among counties in prosecutors’ charging decisions. The ACLU is challenging California’s death penalty statute in ongoing litigation.
The California District Attorneys Association opposed broad commutations, arguing that they would disregard jury decisions and cause additional distress for victims’ families. Its president, Jeannine M. Pacioni, said each sentence resulted from consideration of an individual case and warned against replacing those judgments without reviewing the circumstances and considering the families affected.
Newsom acknowledged that his action could revive painful memories for victims’ relatives and said he accepted responsibility for its consequences. His announcement adds to the national debate over capital punishment, while leaving California’s underlying death penalty law intact and requiring court approval for most proposed commutations.