California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced plans to replace the death sentences of all 548 inmates on the state’s death row with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, in a major decision that could reshape the state’s approach to capital punishment.

Newsom announced the move on Thursday, November 5, 2026, saying his decision was rooted in his longstanding opposition to government-sanctioned executions.

In a letter addressed to residents of California, the governor argued that capital punishment was inconsistent with the state’s principles of justice and human dignity.

He maintained that society would be better served by rejecting executions, adding that the state should not take the lives of convicted offenders, regardless of the severity of their crimes.

Newsom described the decision as one of the most difficult of his political career, acknowledging that it could reopen painful memories for families who lost loved ones to violent crimes.

He said he had chosen to extend the same clemency measure to every condemned prisoner rather than distinguish between offenders based on the nature of their crimes.

According to him, making different decisions could create divisions among victims’ families by suggesting that some victims’ lives deserved greater consideration than others.

Under the proposed arrangement, the affected inmates would remain incarcerated for the rest of their lives without eligibility for parole.

However, the process is not yet complete. While Newsom has the authority to commute some sentences directly, approximately 60 per cent of the cases require approval from the California Supreme Court because of additional felony convictions involving the affected prisoners.

California has one of the largest death row populations in the world, with 548 inmates awaiting execution. The state has not carried out an execution since 2006, while Newsom introduced an official moratorium on executions in March 2019.

Despite the suspension of executions, courts have continued to impose death sentences for serious crimes, leaving hundreds of convicted offenders on death row.

The governor’s announcement has also reignited discussions about capital punishment in the United States, where the death penalty remains legal in several states.

On the same day Newsom announced his decision, Alabama, Florida and Indiana reportedly carried out executions, highlighting the differing approaches to capital punishment across the country.

The announcement has attracted mixed reactions, particularly from people directly affected by violent crimes.

Jess Nichol, whose sister was murdered by a man sentenced to death in California, said she had previously supported the execution of the convicted killer but later reconsidered her position.

She argued that carrying out the execution would not necessarily help her recover from the loss or improve public safety.

The American Civil Liberties Union welcomed Newsom’s decision, describing it as an important step towards ending what it considers an unfair and inhumane punishment.

The organisation argued that the death penalty has been affected by racial disparities, wrongful convictions and weaknesses within the criminal justice system.

However, opponents of the governor’s move have raised concerns about the interests of victims and their relatives, arguing that changing the sentences could undermine the justice they believe should be served.

Newsom, who is approaching the end of his second and final term as California governor, has also been mentioned as a potential contender for the 2028 United States presidential election.

His latest decision adds to his longstanding record of opposing capital punishment and follows years of efforts to suspend executions in California.

Source: AFP, Reuters, Los Angeles Times.