<p>Democrat’s move prevents these people from executions under future governors, after Christa Pike’s failed execution</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gavin-newsom">Gavin Newsom</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/california">California</a>’s governor, has commuted the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/capital-punishment">death sentences</a> of more than 500 people on the state’s death row on Thursday, a move that ensures they can never be executed under future administrations.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/democrats">Democrat</a>’s mass commutation at the end of his term has converted all of the state’s death sentences to life without the possibility of parole, the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/07/us/newsom-death-row-prisoners-california.html?unlocked_article_code=1.HFE.nepQ.drX30miPbvod&amp;smid=url-share">largest</a> clearing of any US death row in modern history.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/nov/05/gavin-newsom-commutes-death-sentences-california">Continue reading...</a>