Minnesota's new flag reveals sharp generational and political divides
The North Star state's new flag elicited divided opinions by age, race and ethnicity, and party.
Note: This post is based on a 2024 survey
The snapshot: Minnesotans' views on the new state flag reflect deeper divides about identity and representation, offering a window into who feels represented by one of the state's key symbols, according to a Minnesota Community Survey of 3,399 adults conducted July 20-Nov. 22, 2024.
Key findings:
- 42% of Minnesotans view the new flag negatively, while 29% react positively and 29% feel neutral
- Younger Minnesotans, Democrats, plus Black, Latino, and Asian Minnesotans are more likely to embrace the flag
- Older Minnesotans, White Minnesotans, Republicans, and Greater Minnesota residents are more likely to feel negative about the flag
About this Minnesota Community Survey
Survey type: Mail-to-online survey with address-based sampling
Respondents: 3,399 Minnesota adults
Field dates: July 20 to Nov. 22, 2024
Our extended field period ensures we reach a representative sample of Minnesotans, not just the quickest responders.
Margin of error: ± 2.2 percentage points
Languages: English, Spanish, Hmong, Somali
Our terminology page has definitions of income tiers, racial and ethnic groups, education levels and geographic regions.
QUESTION WORDING
ASK ALL
Minnesota has a new official state flag that looks like this:
[PROGRAMMING NOTE: INSERT PHOTO OF FLAG]
How would you describe your reaction to the new flag?
1. Strongly positive
2. Positive
3. Neither positive nor negative
4. Negative
5. Strongly negative
The landscape: Minnesota adopted its new state flag in May 2024, replacing a design that dated back to 1893. The old flag faced criticism for depicting a Native American riding away as a white settler plowed the land, imagery many viewed as celebrating the displacement of Indigenous peoples.
New design features:
- A white North Star on a dark blue background shaped like Minnesota
- A light blue swatch representing the state's 10,000+ lakes
- A simplified, modern aesthetic
The debate centered on representation and tradition. Supporters argued the old flag perpetuated harmful stereotypes, while critics saw the change as erasing Minnesota's history. Some also falsely claimed the new flag resembled Somalia's flag, a comparison flag experts rejected as inaccurate.
The breakdown:
- Age gap: 43% of adults under 40 view the flag positively vs. just 19% of those 65+
- Racial divide: 53% of Black Minnesotans react positively vs. 25% of White Minnesotans
- Party split: 64% of Republicans view the flag negatively vs. 23% of Democrats
- Geography: Minneapolis/St. Paul residents feel warmer toward it (42% positive), while Greater Minnesota residents feel cooler toward it (54% negative)
The takeaway: The new flag represents more than a design change. It's a proxy for the state’s broader conversations about identity, representation, and who gets to shape the state's symbols.
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