The Impact of Affirmative Action on American Society and Politics

Democrats in Congress are not expected to take significant action in response to the Supreme Court's recent decision to limit affirmative action in higher education. While party leaders view the court's conservative shift as a key part of their 2024 messaging, many Democrats do not see the end of affirmative action as a rallying point for voters. Instead, they plan to use the decision to rally voters against the conservative court. Democrats are exploring other legislative options to promote diversity in college admissions, such as ending legacy admissions, but face challenges in passing such bills. The broad nature of the court's decision and the lack of Senate votes make it difficult for Democrats to resurrect affirmative action-type policies. Some Democrats are calling for Supreme Court reform, but changes are unlikely in the current political landscape.