California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced plans to commute the death sentences of all 548 inmates on the state’s death row, in a historic move that would replace capital punishment with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Newsom said the decision was based on his long-standing opposition to the death penalty, which he believes is morally wrong and incompatible with the principles of justice.
In a three-page letter addressed to Californians, the Democratic governor said the state should reject government-sanctioned executions, despite acknowledging the suffering caused by those convicted of serious crimes.
“But as governor, I have concluded the state cannot morally kill them,” Newsom wrote. “These offenders will die in prison, but not by our hand.”
The announcement comes as Newsom approaches the end of his second and final term as governor, amid speculation that he could seek the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in 2028.
The proposed commutations would see all 548 condemned prisoners serve life sentences without the possibility of parole. However, some cases will require approval from the California Supreme Court before the commutations can be finalised.
California has not carried out an execution since 2006. Newsom introduced a moratorium on executions in March 2019, shortly after taking office.
Despite the moratorium, capital punishment remains legal in the state and could be reinstated by a future governor.
The decision has drawn criticism from opponents of the move, including Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, who said his office would continue to assess death penalty-eligible cases carefully.
Trump-appointed federal prosecutor Bill Essayli also criticised the announcement, describing it as a major blow to Californians and families of murder victims.
Newsom’s decision has renewed debate over capital punishment in the United States, with supporters arguing that the death penalty is necessary for the most serious crimes, while opponents point to wrongful convictions, racial disparities and concerns about whether executions effectively deter crime.
California has the largest death row in the Western Hemisphere, accounting for more than a quarter of condemned prisoners across the United States.
If completed, Newsom’s move would mark one of the most significant acts of mass clemency in American history.