Low public support for minority‑friendly maps

A May 2026 Economist/YouGov poll finds only about one‑quarter of Americans favor allowing states to draw congressional districts specifically to help minority candidates get elected, with wide partisan and racial splits (Democrats and Black respondents more supportive; Republicans and white respondents far less so). The poll also shows divergent perceptions about whether most white voters would support Black candidates, and stronger opposition when the question is framed as legality. — Public ambivalence or opposition to race‑aware districting changes the political feasibility of remedial redistricting, shapes how courts and legislatures interpret legitimacy, and affects messaging around Voting Rights Act responses.