How Minnesotans rate their new state flag

Note: This post is based on a 2024 survey

Minnesotans have mixed views of their new state flag.

Overall, equal shares of Minnesota adults said they have a positive or neutral (29% each) reaction to the new state flag, with 42% saying they view the flag negatively, according to a Minnesota Community Survey of 3,399 adults conducted July 20 to Nov. 22, 2024.

The design features a white North Star on a dark blue background shaped like Minnesota, with a swath of light blue representing the state's waters. It became the official Minnesota state flag in May 2024.

The new state flag elicited sharply divided opinions among several groups, including by age, race and ethnicity, and party.

·      Younger Minnesotans were more likely than older Minnesotans to view the new flag positively.

·      Black, Hispanic and Asian adults were more likely than White adults to have a positive reaction to the new flag.

·      Democrats were far more likely than Republicans to view the flag positively.

·      Minnesotans who live in Minneapolis or St. Paul had a more positive view of the flag than residents of the Twin Cities suburbs or Greater Minnesota.

Views of flag by age

Minnesotans ages 18-29 and 30-39 were more likely to have positive (43% each) than negative (25% and 27%) views of the new state flag. Those ages 40-49 were more divided, 29% positive vs. 36% negative.

By contrast, Minnesotans ages 50-64 and ages 65+  were far more likely to view the new flag negatively (55% and 57%) than positively (20% and 19%).

Views of flag by race or ethnicity

Black, Hispanic and Asian Minnesotans held far more positive than negative views of the new state flag.

·      Black: 53% positive vs. 10% negative

·      Hispanic: 45% positive vs. 17% negative

·      Asian: 42% positive vs. 16% negative

By contrast, White Minnesotans were more likely to have a negative reaction to the new state flag, 48% negative vs. 25% positive.

Views of flag by party

Reactions to the new state flag differed sharply by party. Most Republicans (64%) had a negative view of the new flag, while only 12% had a positive view. 

By contrast, more Democrats reacted positively (45%) than negatively (23%) to the new state flag.

Views of flag by geography

Minnesotans who live in Minneapolis or St. Paul had a more positive than negative view of the new state flag (42% vs. 27%).

Meanwhile, those who live in the Twin Cities suburbs had a more negative (27%) than positive (44%) reaction to the state flag.

Residents of Greater Minnesota had the most negative views of the new state flag, with 54% having a negative reaction and only 19% having a positive reaction.

View our terminology page for definitions of income tiers, racial and ethnic groups, education levels and geographic regions.

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