Poll shows one-third of Americans favor a second execution after a botched lethal injection

A four-day one outlet/Ipsos poll completed Monday asked Americans whether a second execution should be attempted after a failed lethal injection in Tennessee, where Christa Pike survived two attempts. One-third said a repeat attempt is appropriate, 39% argued the inmate should serve life in prison, and 26% were undecided. Support for capital punishment fell to 55%, down from 63% in a 2017 poll, with 31% opposing it.

The findings come as courts weigh the permissibility of a second execution, and the U.S. Supreme Court has recently permitted a state to schedule another execution date. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth floated the idea of livestreaming the upcoming firing-squad execution of Nidal Hasan, but President Donald Trump cancelled the broadcast, though the execution remains set for Dec. 3. While 46% consider a firing squad appropriate, 71% say televising executions is unsuitable.