While Democrats were left fuming last year after the Supreme Court ruled against college affirmative action programs, new polling data suggests most Americans are onboard. 

That's according to the Washington Examiner, which cited a survey carried out by Gallup between October 25 and November 9 of last year.

Ruling supported by a majority of all racial groups

It found that the Supreme Court's move to ban the use of race by colleges in deciding who to admit is regarded positively by 68% of U.S. adults. While the ruling is favored by a majority of all racial groups, support levels vary significantly.

White and Hispanic Americans are the two demographics were are most likely to voice support, at 72% and 68% respectively.

Meanwhile, 63% of Asians and 52% of African Americans were found to agree with America's highest judicial body on affirmative action in college.

When asked how the decision will impact members of their racial group, 36% of whites,  33% of Hispanics, 31% of Asians, and 27% of African Americans believe that college admission will get either "much" or "slightly" easier.

Generational divide among African Americans

As CNN pointed out, there is a sharp generational divide within the African American community on how the ruling is perceived.

While a majority of Americans see the end of affirmative action as “mostly a good thing,” there's a generational split among Black adults over the impact on higher education and their racial group, finds a new Gallup Center on Black Voices report.

— Gallup (@Gallup) January 16, 2024

Whereas 56% of those aged 40 and older have a negative opinion about it, the decision is seen positively by 62% of younger African Americans.

The poll also found that 49% of African Americans think the ruling will lead to less diversity on campus, a view shared by 57% of Asians, 36% of Hispanics, and 37% of whites.

Camille Lloyd serves as director for the Gallup Center on Black Voices and she told CNN that those numbers represent mixed feelings among many observers.

Ruling broke down along ideological lines

"I do think that people are more likely to say that there are negative impacts that will likely occur as a result of this, regardless of how they feel in terms of whether the decision itself is mostly good or mostly bad," Lloyd was quoted as saying.

Fox News reported that the ruling was divided along ideological lines, with Chief Justice John Roberts joining the other five Republican appointees to vote in favor of it.

Their majority opinion said colleges "have concluded, wrongly, that the touchstone of an individual’s identity is not challenges bested, skills built, or lessons learned but the color of their skin."