Support Lags to Lift California’s Ban on Affirmative Action

An effort to end California’s prohibition on affirmative action had a lot going for it this year—a growing awareness of racial inequality, more voters of color, and a multimillion dollar campaign war chest.

But the measure (Proposition 16) seeking to reverse a 24-year ban on giving racial- and gender-based advantages in hiring, for contracts, and in college enrollment, is in trouble. Two recent statewide polls show support from about one-third of likely voters surveyed.

“This proposition looks virtually certain to fail,” said Thad Kousser, a professor of political science at the University of California, San ...