Newsom Directs Commutation of All Death Sentences in California
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a directive to commute all death sentences to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Los Angeles, CA, November 5, 2026 — In a significant policy shift, California Governor Gavin Newsom has issued a directive that will commute all death sentences currently imposed in the state to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The action impacts individuals on death row, altering the legal status of their sentences.
The governor’s directive applies to all individuals under sentence of death in California. Under this order, these sentences will be commuted to life imprisonment. A key stipulation of this commutation is that it will be without the possibility of parole, meaning those affected will remain incarcerated for the remainder of their lives.
This move by Governor Newsom alters the immediate fate of individuals awaiting execution. The state has a number of individuals on its death row, and this directive ensures that none will face execution under his administration. The policy is effective immediately for all applicable sentences.
The directive does not, however, eliminate the death penalty as a legal statute in California. Rather, it specifically addresses the sentences already handed down. The specific number of individuals affected by this commutation was not detailed in the announcement, nor were the specific legal mechanisms or timelines for the implementation of these commutations explicitly stated.
Newsom has previously expressed opposition to the death penalty. In March 2019, he signed an executive order that placed a moratorium on executions, closing the state’s execution chamber. The current directive extends this stance by commuting all existing death sentences.
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