“My ultimate goal is to end the death penalty in California.”
California stands at a historic crossroads. For nearly two decades, no executions have taken place, yet the state continues to have the highest number of people under sentence of death in the United States.
As of May 2026, over 550 people have death sentences in California. That’s more than 25% of all people with death sentences in the entire U.S.
Governor Newsom has the power to directly grant clemency for about 40% of those with death sentences in California. He can ask the state Supreme Court to recommend commuting the death sentences for the others.
Newsom leaves office in January 2027. The window for him to act is closing.
Amnesty members Adebayo Inubile and Stephanye Bolton (Photo by Gavrilah Wells)
Tell Governor Newsom to commute all death sentences in California
Resources
(Mohd Firdaus/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Amnesty International Global Report: Death Sentences and Executions 2025
(Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)