The City of Champlin voted 3-2 Monday night to continue flying the old Minnesota state flag at city-owned property. The vote came after a discussion which sharply criticized the process that was used to select the new state flag.
In 2023, Democrats in control of state government passed an omnibus bill which created a state commission to redesign the Minnesota flag and seal. Democrats specifically gave that commission the power to choose the new flag without final approval from the legislature.
That commission had 13 voting members which included the Minnesota secretary of state, three appointees from the governor, American Indian representatives, and representatives from groups such as the Council of Latino Affairs, and the Council of African Heritage.
The commission’s new flag design was unveiled in December of 2023, and that design officially became the new state flag on May 11, 2024. The Minnesota Legislature never held a vote to either change or approve the design selected by the flag commission.
Since its unveiling, the new flag has been routinely derided with many saying the old flag is superior. Many homes and local governments in Greater Minnesota do not fly the new state flag, and many Minnesotans have noted the new flag’s resemblance to the Somali flag.
On Monday, the City of Champlin held a vote on which flag was going to fly on city grounds. During discussion of that topic, various speakers indicated that the old flag had been flying at city-owned property since the new flag was adopted in 2024.
At Monday’s hearing, members of the public were invited to express their thoughts on which flag should be flown by the City of Champlin. The majority of public testifiers voiced their support for the old flag and their distaste for the new flag.
Supporters of the old flag said the new flag “should not be flown on city property” and it was “forced upon the people of this state by a communist trifecta [in state government].”
Proponents of the old flag spoke about the history of that flag and repeatedly criticized the process that was used to authorize the new state flag. One testifier said the new flag “looks like something an elementary student designed.”
“I would appreciate the old flag much more than the new one,” another testifier said. “The old flag represents what Minnesota was, what it’s always been, and what we had always hoped it to be.”
Only three people spoke in favor of the new flag. One speaker implied that rejection of the new flag amounted to a rejection of the legislature and the governor’s legitimacy. Another testifier said the old flag “carries harm and hate.”
After public comment, the Champlin City Council took up the matter. The city attorney told the council that there is no law that requires the city to fly the new flag, and the choice as to what flag is flown is “a policy decision of the council.”
Multiple city councilors criticized the fact that the new flag was chosen by a committee of individuals and never received approval from the public or the people’s representatives in the Minnesota Legislature.
Ultimately, the city council voted 3-2 to continue flying the old state flag.
Mayor Ryan Sabas and Council Members Tim Huttner and Tim LaCroix voted to continue flying the old state flag. Meanwhile, Council Members Jessica Tesdall and Tom Moe voted against the motion to keep flying the old flag.
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.
