In particular there’s been an awakening among Asian-Americans who have learned they are the most likely victims of substituting race for merit. Asian-Americans were crucial to keeping the ban on race preferences in 2020, and they are better organized today. They are also backed by public opinion: In June a Pew Research survey reported that “by more than two-to-one, Americans say considering race and ethnicity makes college admissions less fair than more fair.”
The Supreme Court’s June decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard also means that an exception to the state’s constitutional ban on racial preferences would likely be struck down in federal court. But it’s ridiculous that California has to have this fight all over again.
This is an exercise in bad faith. Voters have made clear they don’t want racial preferences, and the courts say they are illegal. Let’s hope Californians let their legislators know they’ll hold them accountable at the voting booth if they insist on going through with it.