WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2026 – Today Gov. Gavin Newsom announced he plans to commute the sentences of all 548 people on California’s death row to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Although the California Supreme Court must still weigh in on some of the cases in question, the Governor's historic decision has the potential to shrink the total U.S. death row population by a quarter.
For over a year, members of the Business Leaders Against the Death Penalty campaign and the companies they represent have been encourgaging the Governor to take this step. Their advocacy included:
A letter to the Governor signed by nearly 100 business leaders
A sweeping store activation and projection action by Lush Cosmetics (which today took home Bronze in the 2026 Anthem Awards)
A social media campaign on Gov. Newsom's birthday by Ben & Jerry's
A Sacramento Bee op-ed by Machina Ventures founder Matthew Stepka
These business advocates didn't act in isolation. Led by Clemency California, the U.S. Campaign to End the Death Penalty, and others, their calls were joined with those of civil rights leaders, victims’ family members, law enforcement leaders, and faith leaders across California and around the world. Together, this diverse coalition pointed to the death penalty’s exorbitant cost, its inherent risk of error, and its failure to deliver safety to communities or justice to victims.
See here what business leaders are saying about the Gov. Newsom’s decision to clear California’s death row:
“For two weeks this January, all 35 Lush stores across California called on Governor Newsom to commute the state's death row with displays in their windows and signage in the shop. Today he has announced his intention to do so, and we applaud him for this strong act of moral courage and political leadership. Governor Newsom’s bold action not only prevents the state from condemning innocent people to death, it ends wasteful spending on a policy that fails to address the root causes of crime and makes those resources available for crime prevention solutions that truly make communities safer. We hope that in addition to securing fairness and justice in California, this action sparks momentum towards ending the death penalty nationwide.” -Carrie Harambasic, Head of Business Development, Lush North America
“We congratulate Governor Newsom on holding true to his words and convictions as he takes this historic action to commute California's death row. Even more, we recognize the gravity of this moment for the more than 500 people who had been on the state's death row, many for over 20 years. Newsom's action recognizes what we know to be true, that the death penalty does not address the root causes of crime. We need systemic solutions that ensure our justice system is fair, equal and accountable. We hope that his seminal final act as Governor will bring much needed momentum to finally end the death penalty nationwide and around the world.” -Carleen Pickard, Social Mission Director, Ben & Jerry's
“As both a Californian and an investor, it is clear to me that our death penalty system is beyond repair. It is a dual failure: a moral crisis driven by racial bias and a financial sinkhole that costs the state millions every year. By announcing his intention to commute these sentences, Governor Newsom is wisely addressing a legacy of error and fiscal negligence. It is time we stop investing in a practice that is so demonstrably broken.” -Matthew Stepka, Founder and Managing Partner, Machina Ventures
“I applaud this bold and just step. The death penalty is a brutal, inhumane punishment. It doesn’t deter crime, and it doesn’t make Californians and their communities any safer. It also fails to protect the innocent and disproportionately targets minorities and the poor. I am glad the Governor agrees: the death penalty is broken, and it needs to go. This is the right decision for California, and it’s an important signal to the rest of the country and the world.” -Sir Richard Branson, Founder, Virgin Group
“By moving to commute California’s death row, Governor Newsom has demonstrated his commitment to defending human rights, upholding the rule of law, and responsibly managing California's fiscal resources. These are values that carry significant weight with the state's vital business community. The death penalty has never made California safer; it’s only burdened the state’s justice system with flawed, drawn-out cases — with little regard to the harmful impact these lengthy processes have on victims’ families — and siphoned tens of millions of dollars away from justice solutions that actually reduce crime. -Maha Jweied, CEO, Responsible Business Initiative for Justice
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The Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ) is an award-winning international nonprofit that works with companies to champion solutions that promote public safety, deliver justice, and strengthen communities.
Business Leaders Against the Death Penalty is a global campaign launched by RBIJ and Sir Richard Branson in 2021, and its declaration has since been signed by nearly 600 figures from the global business community. The full list of signatories is available here.
Media Contact: Katlyn Toelle
Email: katlyn@rbij.org