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Newsom Commutes All 548 California Death Sentences
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday he will commute all of the state's death sentences to life without parole. Most outlets reported that 548 people are affected.
- 561 is the inmate count the New York Post reported, versus 548 elsewhere.
- 40% of sentences Newsom can commute alone; the rest need court approval.
- 2006 was the year of California's last execution.
- 13 inmates have been executed since voters reinstated the penalty in 1978.
Why it matters: The order removes the possibility of execution for California's death row, the largest in the nation. The state's death penalty law itself stays in place.
- $200M+ a year goes to capital appeals, per a 2025 Habeas Corpus Resource Center report.
- Newsom announced after Tuesday's election while weighing a 2028 presidential run.
How 85 sources split on this story
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Coverage by lean
85 sources · 137 articles · 39% Right coverage
Where they split: Supporters say the death penalty is unfair and costly and cannot be applied justly, while victims' families and prosecutors say the worst killers deserve it and the governor is overriding voters.
Center coverage, 24 sources: The center frames it as an extraordinary use of clemency power that leaves the death penalty law intact and needs court review.
USA Today3dWill Newsom commute historic 548 death sentences in California? MaybeRealClearPolitics1dNewsom's Commutations Betray Process of JusticeThe Hill3dNewsom death penalty move ‘impossible to view outside a political lens’: GeragosThe National Desk3dState district attorneys and lawmakers condemn Newsom's death sentence commutationsTMZ4dL.A. District Attorney Nathan Hochman Rips Gavin Newsom For Commuting Death SentencesWKBN Youngstown4dCalifornia Gov. Newsom says he will commute all death sentences in state to life without paroleYahoo News3dWith death sentence clemency, Newsom takes another big political riskAssociated Press4dCalifornia Gov. Newsom says he will commute all death sentences in state to life without paroleAxios4dNewsom moves to empty California's death row as 2028 loomsBBC News4dCalifornia Gov Newsom commutes death sentences for all 548 people on death rowChristian Science Monitor3dCalifornia gives life to ending the death penaltyCTV News4dCalifornia Gov. Newsom says he will commute all death sentences in state to life without paroleDeutsche Welle4dGavin Newsom commutes sentences of all death row inmates in CaliforniaForbes4dGavin Newsom Commutes Death Sentences Of All 548 People On California Death RowFrance 244d'Inhumane punishment': California governor Gavin Newsom to commute 548 death sentencesJapan Times4dCalifornia governor says commuting all death sentences in stateNewsweek4dGavin Newsom’s Move Could Significantly Shrink America’s Death RowNOTUS4dNewsom Spares Hundreds of Death Row Inmates in One of His Final Acts as Governor - The Washington SunPBS NewsHour4dNewsom says he will commute all 548 of California's death sentences to life without parolePennLive4dGavin Newsom just made one of his biggest moves yet on California’s death penaltyScripps News4dNewsom commutes all 548 California death sentences to life without paroleSky News4dAll 548 death row inmates in California to have sentences changed to life in prisonWFLA News Channel 84dCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom to commute all death sentences in stateWPLG Local 104dCalifornia Gov. Newsom says he will commute all death sentences in state to life without parole
Left coverage, 28 sources: The left frames the order as a historic, values-driven break with a system it describes as costly and unjust, while noting its political risks for Newsom.
San Francisco Chronicle2dNo, Newsom's death penalty change won't set murderers looseThe Guardian4dWe’ve just seen a transformative moment in America’s death penalty history | Austin SaratThe Independent2dNewsom commutes all 548 death sentences in California as he prepares to leave officeLos Angeles Times3dWith death sentence clemency, Newsom takes another big political riskMSNBC4dThursday’s Mini-Report, 11.5.26ABC News4dGov. Newsom says he will commute all death sentences in state to life without paroleAl Jazeera4dCalifornia governor commutes sentences of more than 500 people on death rowCleveland.com4dGavin Newsom just made one of his biggest moves yet on California’s death penaltyCNN4dNewsom commutes sentences of all California death row prisonersCommon Dreams4dACLU Applauds Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Historic Commutation of All Death Sentences in CaliforniaDaily Kos4dNewsom commutes all death row sentences in CaliforniaHuffPost4dGavin Newsom Moves To Commute Every Person On California’s Death RowMediaite4dNewsom Declares Death Penalty ‘Incompatible With California’s Values,’ Commutes All of State’s Death Sentences to Life in PrisonMother Jones4dGavin Newsom has commuted the largest death row in the Western HemisphereNBC News4dCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom commutes all death sentencesPolitical Wire4dNewsom Commutes Sentences of 548 Death Row InmatesPolitico4dGavin Newsom commutes all California death sentencesRaw Story4dMAGA erupts over Newsom’s ‘unbelievably disgusting’ move: 'Justice doesn't matter'Rolling Stone4dCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom Commutes Hundreds of Death Row SentencesSlate4dGavin Newsom’s Clemency Is a Game Changer for America’s Death PenaltyThe Boston Globe4dNewsom commutes sentences of California’s 548 death row inmatesThe Marshall Project4dGavin Newsom Issues Commutations for All 548 Californians Facing ExecutionThe New Republic4dNewsom Moves to Save Everyone on California’s Death Row in Final ActThe New York Times4dNewsom Commutes the Sentences of California’s 548 Death Row InmatesThe Root3dGavin Newsom Is Emptying California’s Death Row. Here’s What It Means for Black Inmates – The RootThe Washington Post4dNewsom moves to commute 548 death sentences, emptying California’s death rowTime4dWhat to Know About Gavin Newsom’s Historic Commutation of All California Death SentencesTruthout3dNewsom Commutes All 548 Death Sentences in California
Right coverage, 33 sources: The right frames it as Newsom letting condemned killers avoid the punishment courts imposed on them.
New York Post2dGov. Gavin Newsom reveals the moment he decided to spare all of California’s 548 death row inmatesJust the News4dVictims' advocates slam Newsom's decision to commute death sentencesOutKick2dCalifornia DA says Gavin Newsom's 'cruel' death row clemency stabs crime victims 'in the heart'Breitbart News2dMaher: Newsom Commuted Death Sentences for Attention, to Cater to 'Left Cause', He Runs 'Far-Left Place'Daily Mail1dGavin Newsom reveals the tragic death row case that triggered him to commute all execution sentences after speaking to victim's two sistersNewsmax3dVictims' Advocates, DA Blast Newsom Death Row CommutationsHot Air4dNewsom's Death Row PR Move: Legal or Not?The Center Square3dVictims' advocates slam Newsom's decision to commute death sentencesThe Daily Signal3dNewsom’s Outrageous Death Row Commutations Offer Larger Lesson About ‘Progressive’ GovernanceThe Gateway Pundit3dMother Cries, Savages Newsom for Commuting Death Row Prisoners, Including Man Who Murdered Her Policeman Son * The Gateway Pundit * by Jack Davis, The Western JournalThe Sun3dFrom child rapist to twisted ‘Alphabet Killer’ – the most dangerous death row maniacs among 548 inmates spared executionThe Western Journal3dNewsom Commutes Sentences of California's 548 Prisoners on Death RowTownhall3dHere Are Some of the Monsters Gavin Newsom Removed From Death RowWashington Examiner3dNewsom unilaterally voids California's death penalty casesWND3d‘We are doing this on behalf of crime victims’: Prosecutors outraged by Newsom canceling hundreds of death sentences * WorldNetDaily * by Bob UnruhZeroHedge2d"Mercy For The Wolves": California DAs Revolt After Newsom Wipes Out Death RowBizPac Review4dOutgoing Newsom gives shocking parting gift to California’s death row inmatesCitizen Free Press4dGavin Newsom commutes every death sentence in California — all 548 on death row.Fox News3dMICHAEL RUIZ: California prosecutors revolt after Newsom orders state's worst killers off death rowLegal Insurrection2dNewsom’s Parting Gift Is Clemency for California’s Entire Death RowLouder with Crowder4dGavin Newsom to commute the death sentences of all killers on death row. Yes, all.NTD4dCalifornia Gov. Newsom to Commute All 548 Pending Death SentencesOne America News3dNewsom moves to commute all 548 death sentences, sparking law enforcement backlashPJ Media4dNewsom Commutes Death Sentences of All 548 California Death Row InmatesRedState4dCA Voters Said, Speed Up Executions; Newsom Said, How About Commutation and a Rehab Center Instead?RSBNetwork4dCA Governor Newsom makes a shocking decision affecting death row inmatesThe Blaze4dGavin Newsom says death penalty is 'incompatible' with California values in massive commutation announcementThe Daily Caller4dDem Governor Enacts Largest Death Row Mass Commutation In US HistoryThe Daily Wire5dNewsom Moves To Empty California’s Death RowThe Epoch Times5dCalifornia Gov. Newsom to Commute All 548 Pending Death SentencesThe Washington Times4dGavin Newsom commutes all California death sentences to life in prisonTwitchy4dDem Gov. Gavin Newsom Commutes Sentences of 548 Serial Killers and Rapists on California’s Death RowWashington Free Beacon3dGavin the Merciful: Newsom’s 548 Death Row Commutations of Infamous Child Murderers and Serial Killers Overshadow Biden’s Notorious Clemency Spree
What’s next: The California Supreme Court must review the commutations that require its approval under the state Constitution.
- The Criminal Justice Legal Foundation said it was ready to challenge commutations in court.
- How quickly will the California Supreme Court rule on the commutations it must review?
- Will a legal challenge from victims' advocates succeed in blocking any commutations?
- How will the decision affect Newsom's standing if he runs for president in 2028?
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