Fairgoers favor Capitol gun ban, House poll shows

More than three-quarters of respondents to the 2025 House of Representatives’ State Fair Poll support banning guns in the State Capitol.

Security at the State Capitol is under review after Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) and her husband, Mark, were killed in their home and Sen. John Hoffman (DFL-Champlin) and his wife, Yvette, were shot in their home June 14.

People with a permit can now carry a gun inside the building, but 78.9% of polltakers support banning guns in the Capitol while 17.2% oppose it and 4% are undecided.

The annual poll was conducted by the nonpartisan House Public Information Services Office and is an informal, unscientific survey of issues discussed in prior legislative sessions and that may again be topics of discussion in 2026. The 12-question poll was taken by 9,945 fairgoers this year, an increase from 2024 when 7,965 people took part.

The poll found 66.1% of polltakers believe undocumented immigrants should have access to state programs, with 27.3% supporting prohibition, and 6.5% undecided. Ending access to MinnesotaCare, the state’s low-income health insurance program, for adult undocumented immigrants was one of the most politically charged bills during in 2025 session.

Polltakers remain divided on allowing school districts to begin classes before Labor Day. This year, 39.9% of respondents support permanently allowing classes to begin before the unofficial end of summer, 36.4% are opposed and 23.7% are undecided.

The numbers continue to show decreased support for the pre-Labor Day start.

Fairgoers participate in the annual opinion poll at the House of Representatives booth in the Education Building Aug. 30. Nearly 10,000 people participated in the 2025 poll. (Photo by Michele Jokinen)

In 2012, 56.4% of poll respondents supported allowing school districts to start classes before Labor Day. Polltakers in 2019 were evenly split on repealing Minnesota’s ban on starting school before Labor Day, with 41% supporting and 42.4% opposing its repeal.

Lawmakers heard several requests for stadium or arena funding in 2025. A majority of polltakers (69.1%) oppose using state funds to renovate or build professional sports stadiums or arenas, while 19.2% support the idea and 11.8% are undecided.

Also receiving strong support from polltakers is a free fishing license for Minnesotans age 65 or older, keeping a candidate’s party designation on the ballot, a ban on legislators acting or registering as lobbyists for two years after leaving office, and establishing a higher income tax rate for the wealthiest Minnesotans.

Here are the poll results, including hand-counted ballots. (Totals are for those who actually voted on the question.)

1. Should school districts be permanently allowed to start classes before Labor Day?

Yes — 39.9% (3,905)

No — 36.4% (3,568)

Undecided/No Opinion — 23.7% (2,321)

2. Should state funds be used to renovate or build professional sports stadiums or arenas in Minnesota?

Yes — 19.2% (1,868)

No — 69.1% (6,735)

Undecided/No Opinion — 11.8% (1,149)

3. Should undocumented immigrants be prohibited from accessing state programs?

Yes — 27.3% (2,669)

No — 66.1% (6,460)

Undecided/No Opinion — 6.5% (637)

4. Should hourly school workers be eligible to receive unemployment during the summer?

Yes — 61.2% (5,950)

No — 29% (2,822)

Undecided/No Opinion — 9.8% (955)

5. State law currently allows people with a permit to carry to bring a gun inside the State Capitol. Should guns be banned in the building?

Yes — 78.9% (7,689)

No — 17.2% (1,674)

Undecided/No Opinion — 4% (387)

6. The state is projected to face a nearly $6 billion deficit in the 2028-29 biennium. In general, what is your preferred way to balance the state budget in a time of shortfall?

Increase revenue — 43.5% (4,160)

Decrease spending — 41.1% (3,925)

Undecided/No Opinion — 15.4% (1,473)

7. Should candidates for the Legislature appear on the ballot without their political party designation?

Yes — 19.7% (1,909)

No — 70.1% (6,801)

Undecided/No Opinion — 10.3% (997)

8. Minnesota provides free breakfast and lunch for all students. Should access to free meals be limited to families earning $150,000 or less a year?

Yes — 42% (4,085)

No — 53.9% (5,250)

Undecided/No Opinion — 4.1% (398)

9. Should Minnesotans age 65 and older be allowed to receive a free fishing license?

Yes — 70% (6,813)

No — 19.1% (1,861)

Undecided/No Opinion — 10.9% (1,064)

10. Should cities and counties be allowed to prohibit cannabis businesses in their community?

Yes — 47.8% (4,661)

No — 41.8% (4,076)

Undecided/No Opinion — 10.4% (1,011)

11. Should legislators be banned from acting or registering as lobbyists for two years after leaving office?

Yes — 79.9% (7,797)

No — 9.5% (930)

Undecided/No Opinion — 10.5% (1,027)

12. Minnesota’s highest tax rate is currently 9.85% for married couples earning at least $330,411 or single filers earning at least $198,631. Should the state institute a higher income tax rate for its highest earners?

Yes — 67.4% (6,586)

No — 25.3% (2,470)

Undecided/No Opinion — 7.3% (710)