Newsom moves to commute all 548 California death sentences before Becerra takes office

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Nov. 5 that he intends to change the sentences of all 548 people on the state's death row to life in prison without the possibility of parole ¹. He announced it in an open letter ¹². CalMatters, a nonprofit news outlet, reported that it would clear death row for the first time since the state's hangings in the late 19th century ².

The change is called a commutation. It does not free anyone or make anyone eligible for parole, and it leaves convictions and restitution orders in place ¹. CalMatters, citing the Death Penalty Information Center, called it the largest act of mass clemency in U.S. history ².

On tapeABC7 News Bay Area · Nov 5

▶1:21

I firmly believe that state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with California's values, undermines the foundations of our legal system, and diminishes each of us.

The court must sign off on most cases

Newsom cannot finish the job alone. For the nearly 400 prisoners convicted of multiple felonies, four of the seven California Supreme Court justices must approve the commutation ². Newsom's term ends at the end of the year ².

Opponents say they will fight it. Anne Marie Schubert, who leads the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, pledged to challenge the commutations in the state Supreme Court. She said victims' families were not notified ².

From Channel GOPXavier Becerra declares victory in CaliforniaXavier Becerra · 171 plays · captioned, with the source named

the most grotesque violation of victims' rights I've ever seen

Where Becerra stands

Gov.-elect Xavier Becerra, a Democrat, has committed to extending the state's moratorium on executions when he takes office ². A moratorium is a pause. Newsom set one in 2019, and California has not executed anyone since January 2006 ¹.

Becerra's record is more mixed. As attorney general in March 2017, he said his office would keep seeking the death penalty against Scott DeKraai. DeKraai admitted killing eight people in a 2011 shooting at a Seal Beach hair salon ¹. Becerra said then that he had concluded that seeking death was "the appropriate course of action" in that case ¹.

On tapeABC10 · Nov 6

▶3:00

What happens next

The commutations do not repeal the death penalty. It stays in California law, so the next governor could inherit an empty death row in a state where death sentences are still allowed ¹.

Voters have rejected repeal before. In 2012, Proposition 34 lost by roughly 52 percent to 48 percent, and a 2016 repeal measure, Proposition 62, also failed ¹. A 2026 Pew Research Center survey found 66 percent of U.S. adults favor the death penalty for murder, while 59 percent said it does not deter serious crime ¹.

That matters because the fight now moves to the courts. The state Supreme Court's decision will decide how much of Newsom's order takes effect, and the debate over executions has drawn fresh attention after a failed execution attempt in Tennessee on Sept. 30 ¹.

The Record

1. Mar 1, 2017As attorney general, Xavier Becerra said his office would keep seeking the death penalty against Scott DeKraai ¹.
2. Sep 30, 2026Tennessee's attempt to execute Christa Pike failed; she survived two injections of pentobarbital ¹.
3. Nov 5, 2026Gov. Gavin Newsom announced plans to commute all 548 California death sentences to life without parole ¹².

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<h2>Newsom moves to commute all 548 California death sentences before Becerra takes office</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Courts Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/newsom-moves-to-commute-all-548-california-death-sentences-before-becerra-takes">The GOP Files</a> on Monday, November 9, 2026.</em></p> <p>California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Nov. 5 that he intends to change the sentences of all 548 people on the state&#39;s death row to life in prison without the possibility of parole . He announced it in an open letter . CalMatters, a nonprofit news outlet, reported that it would clear death row for the first time since the state&#39;s hangings in the late 19th century .</p> <p>The change is called a commutation. It does not free anyone or make anyone eligible for parole, and it leaves convictions and restitution orders in place . CalMatters, citing the Death Penalty Information Center, called it the largest act of mass clemency in U.S. history .</p> <blockquote><p>I firmly believe that state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with California&#39;s values, undermines the foundations of our legal system, and diminishes each of us.</p><p>&mdash; Gavin Newsom, Governor, D-California</p></blockquote> <h2>The court must sign off on most cases</h2> <p>Newsom cannot finish the job alone. For the nearly 400 prisoners convicted of multiple felonies, four of the seven California Supreme Court justices must approve the commutation . Newsom&#39;s term ends at the end of the year .</p> <p>Opponents say they will fight it. Anne Marie Schubert, who leads the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, pledged to challenge the commutations in the state Supreme Court. She said victims&#39; families were not notified .</p> <blockquote><p>the most grotesque violation of victims&#39; rights I&#39;ve ever seen</p><p>&mdash; Anne Marie Schubert, CEO, Criminal Justice Legal Foundation</p></blockquote> <h2>Where Becerra stands</h2> <p>Gov.-elect Xavier Becerra, a Democrat, has committed to extending the state&#39;s moratorium on executions when he takes office . A moratorium is a pause. Newsom set one in 2019, and California has not executed anyone since January 2006 .</p> <p>Becerra&#39;s record is more mixed. As attorney general in March 2017, he said his office would keep seeking the death penalty against Scott DeKraai. DeKraai admitted killing eight people in a 2011 shooting at a Seal Beach hair salon . Becerra said then that he had concluded that seeking death was &quot;the appropriate course of action&quot; in that case .</p> <h2>What happens next</h2> <p>The commutations do not repeal the death penalty. It stays in California law, so the next governor could inherit an empty death row in a state where death sentences are still allowed .</p> <p>Voters have rejected repeal before. In 2012, Proposition 34 lost by roughly 52 percent to 48 percent, and a 2016 repeal measure, Proposition 62, also failed . A 2026 Pew Research Center survey found 66 percent of U.S. adults favor the death penalty for murder, while 59 percent said it does not deter serious crime .</p> <p>That matters because the fight now moves to the courts. The state Supreme Court&#39;s decision will decide how much of Newsom&#39;s order takes effect, and the debate over executions has drawn fresh attention after a failed execution attempt in Tennessee on Sept. 30 .</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/newsom-moves-to-commute-all-548-california-death-sentences-before-becerra-takes">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/newsom-moves-to-commute-all-548-california-death-sentences-before-becerra-takes.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. Newsweek, “Where California's Next Governor Stands On Death Penalty” (2026-11-09). newsweek.com/california-next-governor-xavier-becerra-gavin-n
2. CalMatters, “Gavin Newsom death penalty commutation” (2026-11-05). calmatters.org/justice/2026/11/gavin-newsom-death-penalty-co

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