The America First Policy Institute (AFPI), an influential think tank whose alumni now serve in the Trump Administration, has opened up a Minnesota chapter (AFPI-MN) with a mission to “end the chaos and restore the state’s livability.”
Announcing the new chapter, AFPI-MN’s inaugural chairman, Ryan Wilson, said “Minnesota is at an inflection point, and we will fight every day to empower and protect families to make Minnesota safe and affordable again.”
The organization has already begun statewide polling to learn more about the mood and thoughts of Minnesotans. Conducted at the end of July, the survey polled 600 registered voters about a variety of topics. The poll had a 4-point margin of error.
According to the poll, 34.1% of respondents said they think Minnesota is on the right track. Meanwhile, 49.1% said the state was on the wrong track. The remaining 16.8% said they were undecided or not sure.
Respondents were also questioned about Gov. Tim Walz’s performance leading the state. In total, 45.9% said they either strongly approve or somewhat approve of the job Walz is doing, while 48.3% said they strongly disapprove or somewhat disapprove.
Interestingly, the Minnesota Legislature had a much larger net-negative reputation among those who were polled. Only 35.3% indicated approval for the legislature’s performance, while 49.6% strongly disapproved or somewhat disapproved.
Asked about the top issue facing Minnesota, 22.3% of respondents selected prices/cost of living/the economy from a list of topics. From there, 11.6% answered taxes, 9% said illegal immigration, and 7.5% said crime. However, 35.2% of respondents selected “Something Else” when asked about their top issue.
Further, 54.6% of respondents said the Minnesota economy is getting worse, 68.7% either strongly or somewhat agreed that lowering taxes would make life better, 72.9% indicated that they feel safe living in Minnesota, and 86.6% indicated opposition to legislation that would allow violent criminals to be released early.
A plurality of poll respondents (46.6%) said local law enforcement should cooperate with federal authorities on immigration enforcement. Similarly, another plurality (47.6%) said illegal aliens caught committing a crime should be turned over for deportation.
Only 35.5% of those surveyed described themselves as either strongly or somewhat pro-life. Conversely, 58.6% identified as strongly or somewhat pro-choice.
Of the poll respondents, 46.5% said they voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, and 42.7% said they voted for Donald Trump. In the 2024 election, Harris won Minnesota with 50.9% of the vote, and Trump received roughly 46.7% of the vote.
State hiring practices draw scrutiny after Alpha News report
Last month, Alpha News reported on a Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) policy that requires agency staff to justify their reasons for hiring a “non-underrepresented candidate” for a job where there is allegedly “underrepresentation.”
In short, DHS hiring supervisors are required to explain why they did not hire someone from a “protected group(s)” when “representation of one or more protected groups is less than the group’s estimated availability in the relevant geographic area and labor force.”
According to the policy, “females, persons with disabilities, and members of the following minorities: Black, Hispanic, Asian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaskan native” are all considered “protected group(s).”
A spokesperson for DHS previously told Alpha News that Minnesota law has required state agencies to justify non-affirmative action hires since 1987, and a hiring justification policy has been in place at DHS since 2002.
Shortly after that Alpha News report was published, the U.S. Department of Justice opened an investigation into Minnesota.
In their survey, AFPI-MN included a question about this issue which asked: “Do you agree with the policy that the Minnesota Department of Human Services should have to provide written justification for hiring a white male and no justification for hiring other employees?”
An overwhelming majority of respondents, 81.4%, either strongly disagreed or somewhat disagreed with the DHS policy. Meanwhile, 10.1% said they were not sure how they felt about the policy, and the remaining 8.5% indicated agreement.
Luke Sprinkel
Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.
