During the recent vice presidential debate between Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. J.D. Vance, Walz mentioned Minnesota 26 times.
Walz cited Minnesota as a leader in solar energy production, abortion access, child poverty reduction, housing, water and land protection, innovation, working conditions, and healthcare — all factors that can contribute to a high quality of life.
Although there was no fact checker at the debate, there is actually quite a lot of data to back Walz’s implications.
This past summer, Minneapolis was ranked the happiest city in the U.S. by the Institute for Quality of Life, based on metrics of citizens, governance, economy, environment and mobility.
In 2024, Minnesota was ranked as the sixth happiest state by WalletHub. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy also ranked Minnesota as having the “most equitable” tax system in the U.S.
For young people specifically, Minneapolis was ranked as the best city in the U.S. for recent college graduates, in a report by Zumper.
So what is it that makes us so happy? As a lifelong Minnesota resident, I can tell you it isn’t our sports teams or winters.
Part of it might be the hotdish, but largely, it boils down to our progressivism.
Progressivism can be broadly defined as movements or policies that seek to advocate for the interests of everyday people, usually through government support.
Minnesota has historically had a very progressive voting record and currently holds the longest active electoral college streak of voting for Democratic presidential candidates, with it going blue in every single election since 1976. In the 1984 election, it was the only state to not give its electoral votes to Republican President Ronald Reagan.
Lexi Cornolo, a second-year student at the University of Minnesota and vice president of the UMN College Democrats organization, described Minnesota’s progressive policies as tools that benefit everyone.
“Our progressivism, to me, is looking out for all aspects of society and all people who run inside of it,” Cornolo said. “Governors like Walz and just any political figures who are progressive, who look into areas that are usually neglected or just overlooked, is really admirable.”
For Abigail Wick, a third-year student, Minnesota’s post-secondary enrollment option (PSEO) is one example of a progressive policy that makes life easier for Minnesota students and residents.
Minnesota’s PSEO program allows 10th, 11th and 12th grade high school students to enroll in college courses and complete credits tuition-free. The program was first created in 1985 by Minnesota to expand public education opportunities and was later adopted by several other states.
Wick cited this as a major financial benefit for her, and the reason she can graduate a year early.
“PSEO for high school students was a really good idea because it allows kids from less privileged areas to get access to education,” Wick said. “Then they’re more likely to finish college because they have less to do and pay for.”
More recently, Minnesota elected a democratic trifecta in 2022, with the reelection of Democratic Gov. Tim Walz and a democratic majority in the State House and Senate. Since then, the Minnesota legislature has passed a slew of progressive policies.
One of the newer policies is the implementation of universal school meals in Minnesota schools that opt into the program. This program includes free school breakfast and lunch for all students, regardless of free and reduced lunch status.
Leah Gardner is the policy director for Hunger Solutions Minnesota and one of the leaders of the Hunger-Free Schools campaign that pushed for universal school meals in Minnesota. Gardner said the 2022 state democratic trifecta was a big reason this was possible and passed so efficiently.
“We ended up with sort of our moment politically, where everyone was bought in,” Gardner said. “We kind of jumped into the deep end and got it done pretty smoothly during the 2023 session.”
Gardner said this program is important for students and families alike.
“We’ve surveyed youth and parents with an oversampling of BIPOC families and those experiencing food insecurity and what we know so far is that they have more food at home as a result,” Gardner said. “So not only is it helping kids get through their school day with the nourishment they need, but it’s actually reducing food insecurity overall for those families. For the health benefits and the quality of life, it’s foundational.”
Gardner said these changes have led to greater attendance and a greater sense of belonging in school.
In the past two years, Minnesota has also been able to encode the state’s abortion rights into law, legalize recreational marijuana, expand worker and union protections by banning noncompete agreements and anti-union captive audience meetings, increase unemployment benefits, and restore voting rights to individuals who were previously incarcerated.
Progressivism is a term that is often highly politicized and weaponized. In reality, it just boils down to what is best for the general public and what is going to make all of our lives easier.
Regardless of any political rhetoric, progressive policies have made Minnesota the happiest.