# Gavin Newsom ends California death row

> California Gov. Gavin Newsom commutes 548 death sentences to life without parole.
- Title: Gavin Newsom ends California death row · Fox News | Shortify
- Summary: California Gov. Gavin Newsom commutes 548 death sentences to life without parole. California Gov.
- Keywords: california, gavin newsom, death row, commutation, life imprisonment, executive moratorium, polly klaas, Fox News
- Source: Fox News — https://foxnews.com/politics/gavin-newsom-wipes-out-californias-death-row-historic-mass-commutation
- Author: Louis Casiano
- Published: 2026-11-05T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: california, gavin newsom, death row, commutation, life imprisonment, executive moratorium, polly klaas, news, politics
## California Gov. Gavin Newsom announces mass commutation
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday he will spare 548 inmates on the state's death row.
## Newsom calls capital punishment system flawed
Newsom declared california's capital punishment system fundamentally flawed, error-prone, and morally incompatible with state values.
## Newsom's rationale for commutation
After nearly 30 years in public office, Newsom said state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with california's values and undermines legal foundations.
## Polly Klaas father criticizes Newsom
Polly Klaas father Marc Klaas called the commutation a betrayal of crime victims and expressed disappointment over the decision.
## Newsom's moratorium on executions
Newsom placed an executive moratorium on executions shortly after taking office in 2019 and ordered dismantling the execution chamber.
## Anti-death penalty advocates praise commutation
Anti-death penalty advocates praised the commutation, calling it moral leadership and a break from the silence of state-sanctioned killing.
## Key takeaway

California Gov. Gavin Newsom commuted 548 death row sentences to life imprisonment without parole after calling the state's capital punishment system flawed.