Getting Back to the Basics in Minnesota

February 2026
Dave Hengel
Executive Director

Let’s take a trip down memory lane for a second. Do you remember that iconic Time Magazine cover from August 1973? The one with Minnesota’s Governor Wendell Anderson proudly holding up a northern pike on one of our beautiful lakes? The headline read, “The Good Life in Minnesota.” Even if you weren’t around back then, you’ve probably heard about the pride Minnesotans felt seeing our state celebrated like that.

Back in those days, Minnesota was the gold standard—a place known for civility, shared values, and a spirit that other states wanted to copy. Time Magazine highlighted our natural beauty, our hard-working people, our commitment to education, and our investments in things like roads and bridges. But what really stood out was something called the “Minnesota Miracle.” It was a big, bipartisan effort that turned our shared values into real laws.

What made the Minnesota Miracle so special? For starters, it showed that we saw ourselves as one state—urban, suburban, rural, all in it together. We believed every student and every community deserved a shot at success, no matter their zip code. And maybe most importantly, it proved that Minnesotans, regardless of political party, were committed to taking care of our state for the long haul. We knew how to work together, compromise, and get along.

Now, let’s not sugarcoat it—1973 was a tough time for the country. The Vietnam War was dragging on, inflation was sky-high, and the Watergate scandal was making everyone distrustful of government. Political bickering was everywhere. But in the middle of all that, Minnesota stood out as a beacon—a state that worked.

Fast forward to today, and it’s hard not to notice some uncomfortable similarities. Our nation is divided again. Tensions are high, political divisions are deep, and there’s a lot of distrust in government and institutions. The kind of divisive politics that used to be just in Washington, D.C. is now everywhere—even in our local communities.

So, where’s Minnesota’s North Star spirit now? Sadly, instead of being the state that “works,” we’ve become an example of division and dysfunction. And honestly, that’s on all of us. No matter where you fall politically, we’ve let our state become this way—not just in perception, but in reality.

In my job, I talk to a lot of site selectors—the folks who help companies decide where to expand. They know the ins and outs of every state. Their take on Minnesota these days? High taxes, high crime, average education and workforce, deep political divisions, and (of course) it’s cold. Not exactly a recipe for growth.

Maybe I’m just getting older and a little cranky, but I miss the days of shared values, civility, and leaders who saw themselves as stewards of our future. I want to get back to a Minnesota that embraces compromise and teamwork. I want to believe we can be the North Star again.

That’s why, as we head into the 2026 Legislative session, I think it’s time to get back to basics. Here’s what I mean:

• Let’s remember we’re still one state. Whether you’re in the Metro or Greater Minnesota, our futures are tied together. Just like in 1973, we need every region to be strong if we want the whole state to thrive. It’s time to close the gap between urban, suburban, and rural—not make it worse.
• Every student in Minnesota deserves a quality education, and every community deserves basic infrastructure, no matter where they are or how much money they have.
• Let’s focus on the basics that made us strong in the first place: public safety, infrastructure, and education. Some things never change—getting these right is the key to long-term prosperity.
• We should invest wisely, especially in education and infrastructure, but stay practical and avoid the extremes on both sides.
• And maybe most importantly, let’s choose not to join in the toxic political rhetoric and extremes that are everywhere these days. Let’s go back to a time when leaders could disagree but still work together and get things done. Our political parties want us to pick sides and fight, but that just leads to dysfunction—even on things we all agree about. As a state, we can choose a different path—one of civility and cooperation.

I love Minnesota. I’m proud of our history of compromise, civility, and investing in our kids and communities. I want us to be the state that “works” again—the one that figures things out, even when the rest of the country is in turmoil. I hope we can pause, take a breath, and get back to the shared values that made us the envy of the nation. Those values are the foundation we need for a successful future.