Black Americans, those with graduate degrees and liberal Democrats are more likely than others to oppose the death penalty
% who __ the death penalty for persons convicted of murder
* Asian adults are representative of English speakers only.
Note: White, Black and Asian adults include those who report being one race and are not Hispanic; Hispanics are of any race. No answer responses are not shown.
Note: White, Black and Asian adults include those who report being one race and are not Hispanic; Hispanics are of any race. No answer responses are not shown.
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted July 6-12, 2026.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
Black Americans, those with graduate degrees and liberal Democrats are more likely than others to oppose the death penalty
% who __ the death penalty for persons convicted of murder
| Group | Strongly favor | Somewhat favor | Somewhat oppose | Strongly oppose | NET Favor | NET Oppose | grouping |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 30 | 36 | 20 | 13 | 66 | 32 | total |
| White | 34 | 36 | 16 | 12 | 70 | 28 | race |
| Hispanic | 25 | 37 | 21 | 14 | 62 | 35 | race |
| Black | 16 | 32 | 32 | 15 | 49 | 48 | race |
| Asian* | 25 | 41 | 25 | 7 | 65 | 32 | race |
| Ages 18-29 | 22 | 37 | 25 | 16 | 59 | 41 | age |
| 30-49 | 29 | 36 | 21 | 11 | 66 | 33 | age |
| 50-64 | 31 | 38 | 16 | 11 | 70 | 27 | age |
| 65+ | 35 | 33 | 16 | 14 | 67 | 30 | age |
| Postgraduate | 17 | 36 | 25 | 21 | 52 | 46 | edu |
| College grad | 26 | 36 | 23 | 14 | 62 | 38 | edu |
| Some college | 33 | 36 | 20 | 9 | 69 | 29 | edu |
| HS or less | 35 | 36 | 15 | 11 | 71 | 26 | edu |
| Rep/Lean Rep | 47 | 37 | 10 | 5 | 84 | 15 | rep |
| Conserv | 54 | 33 | 8 | 5 | 87 | 12 | rep |
| Mod/Lib | 36 | 45 | 13 | 4 | 81 | 18 | rep |
| Dem/Lean Dem | 15 | 36 | 29 | 19 | 51 | 48 | dem |
| Cons/Mod | 20 | 42 | 26 | 11 | 62 | 38 | dem |
| Liberal | 9 | 28 | 34 | 28 | 38 | 62 | dem |
* Asian adults are representative of English speakers only.
Note: White, Black and Asian adults include those who report being one race and are not Hispanic; Hispanics are of any race. No answer responses are not shown.
Note: White, Black and Asian adults include those who report being one race and are not Hispanic; Hispanics are of any race. No answer responses are not shown.
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted July 6-12, 2026.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
