The Star Tribune has published many letters and editorials in the past month that reflect readers’ opinions for and against Minnesota’s former and new state flag.
But in virtually all of the letters and editorials, there has been no discussion or information cited on the history of the flag issue nor the key role played by Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon in the adoption and promotion of the new state flag.
A little history here. In 1983, the Minnesota Legislature updated and revised the Minnesota state seal and flag that was first adopted in 1893 and revised in 1957. The 1983 legislative revision avoided implying the Native American was fleeing the farmer/settler with the plow and shows the Indigenous person facing the farmer like in conversation with him. The 1983 update also kept the other symbols: a setting sun, the Mississippi River and St. Anthony Falls, the Lady Slipper flower and Norway pines.
No one in Minnesota that I recall criticized the changed design of 1983. In fact, the DFL leadership at the time was Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe and House Speaker Harry Sieben, and the DFL Secretary of State was Joan Growe, whose office by law is the keeper of the Minnesota state seal. These able public servants were also individuals of great integrity and probity. I do not believe any of them would have allowed any law to pass that inferred discrimination against Native Americans or any ethnic group in Minnesota.
Now fast forward to 2023 when Minnesota’s failed, woke governor, Tim Walz, called Minnesota’s state flag “problematic,” and lacking in “diversity.” Walz signed into law DFL-sponsored legislation establishing a state commission to design and approve a new state flag. Some of the 13-member commission were appointed by Walz and also included Steve Simon, the secretary of state.
In the 2025-2026 Legislative Manual published by the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office, Secretary Simon, in a signed letter on the very first page, dedicated it to the members of the design commission that created the new flag. Simon praises the new flag design that he said expresses “the unique spirit and characteristics of our state” and will “be admired for generations to come.”
Simon’s actions on the flag issue were devoid of any common sense. His approval and promotion of a flag which I believe eerily resembles the flag of Somalia is both a travesty and insult to the people of Minnesota. Also, in addition to his wrongful actions on the state flag issue, Simon is also opposed to photo ID for voting and the requirement of proof of U.S. citizenship for voting. This is a most important issue relating to voter integrity.
I strongly support the proposal by former state legislator and District Judge Tad Jude, now the Republican endorsed candidate for secretary of state. Jude favors a vote on the design of the state flag by the Minnesota Legislature, a provision not allowed by the DFL legislation Walz signed into law in 2023. Jude also favors a vote by the people of Minnesota in a general election referendum approving the design of Minnesota’s state flag. Indeed, let the people decide!
Steve Wenzel represented Morrison and Crow Wing counties in the Minnesota House from 1973-2001. He teaches Political Science at Central Lakes College in Brainerd, Minnesota.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not represent an official position of Alpha News.
Steve Wenzel
Steve Wenzel is a former state representative from Little Falls who served in the Minnesota House for nearly 30 years as a Democrat.
