Exonerated Floridians urge Donalds to review all 235 death sentences

Three exonerated former death row prisoners have urged Florida’s governor-elect, Byron Donalds, to pause executions and review all 235 current death sentences. Their appeal matters because Florida is carrying out executions at a record pace, while the men say their cases show how wrongful convictions can go undetected.

At a press conference in Tallahassee, Herman Lindsey, Joaquín José Martínez and Seth Penalver called for a roundtable with Donalds and incoming legislative leaders. Florida has exonerated 30 people sentenced to death since 1976; its scheduled execution of Thomas Overton next Thursday would be its 20th this year, surpassing the 2025 record of 19. Donalds has been described by his transition team as a staunch supporter of the death penalty, making a moratorium unlikely.