California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom made a statement about the U.S. Supreme Court's decision restricting the use of race in college admissions. According to a report in The Hill, Newsom stated that there will be a “significant decline” in admissions of black and Latino students across the country as a result of this decision.

The governor bases his assertion on California's experience with affirmative action, which was outlawed by a statewide election initiative in 1996. It highlights the profound impact this ban has had on the state's black and brown communities. It states that other states should expect similar results and specifically mentions California's most selective public universities, which saw a nearly 40 percent drop in admissions of underrepresented minorities when the ban went into effect.

Newsom expresses not being surprised by the Supreme Court's decision and suggests that the current court wishes to return to a time before the 1960s. The court's conservative justices concluded that the use of race by Harvard University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in their admissions processes violated the Fourteenth Amendment, dealing a significant blow to affirmative action programs.

Newsom’s statement raises concerns about diversity and equal opportunity in college admissions. He argues that restricting the use of race could lead to a decrease in access to higher education for black and Latino students. This concern reflects broader debates about affirmative action in the United States and the implications of policies that seek to promote diversity and inclusion in educational institutions.