State Fair poll shows strong support for assault weapons ban, fraud penalties

Three-quarters of respondents to the 2026 House of Representatives’ State Fair Poll support banning the possession of semiautomatic military-style assault weapons in Minnesota.

Gun control became a contentious topic in the House during the 2026 session following the August 2025 shooting at Annunciation Catholic School that killed two children and injured 21 people. A gun violence prevention package containing the ban, proposed by the House DFL, became a major dispute between the two House caucuses in the final week of session and the session ended without a resolution.

The poll found that 75.2% of respondents favor a ban on the possession of semiautomatic military-style assault weapons, except peace officers, service members and other government officials authorized to possess a weapon while acting within the scope of their duties. In opposition to such a ban were 20.5% of polltakers, while 4.3% were 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 that may again be topics of discussion in 2027. The 12-question poll was taken by 9,605 fairgoers this year, on par with last year when 9,945 people took part.

Most polltakers (80.4%) support termination and a five-year ban on state employment for state employees whose intentional actions allowed fraud to occur in a state program. Of polltakers, 6.9% oppose the penalties and 12.7% were undecided.

The provision was included in House Republicans’ “Fraud Isn’t Free Act” to provide accountability on fraud in state programs in response to court cases in recent years involving the defrauding of state programs. The bill failed to move out of committee during the 2026 session.

Polltakers also favor (64.3%) the state appropriating $100 million for a small-business relief fund for Minnesota businesses that experienced significant financial losses during Operation Metro Surge, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s operation that deployed more than 3,000 federal agents in the Twin Cities and other Minnesota communities to detain immigrants from December 2025 until February 2026. Of polltakers, 22.7% are opposed to an appropriation and 13% were undecided.

Here are the poll results (Note that totals are for those who actually voted on the question): 

1. Should Minnesota’s governors and lieutenant governors be limited to serving two, four-year terms in their lifetime?

Yes — 69.4% (6,566)

No — 18.4% (1,743)

Undecided/No Opinion — 12.2% (1,154)

2. Should the state appropriate $100 million for a small-business relief fund for Minnesota business owners who experienced significant financial losses during Operation Metro Surge?

Yes — 64.3% (6,055)

No — 22.7% (2,136)

Undecided/No Opinion — 13% (1,226)

3. Should a state employee whose intentional actions allowed fraud to occur in a state program be terminated and banned from state employment for five years? 

Yes — 80.4% (7,540)

No — 6.9% (650)

Undecided/No Opinion — 12.7% (1,193)

4. Should health plans be required to cover infertility treatment and standard fertility preservation services?

Yes — 64.8% (6,111)

No — 19.9% (1,875)

Undecided/No Opinion — 15.3% (1,438)

5. To receive a ballot, should voters be required to show a photo ID at the poll?

Yes — 37.1% (3,499)

No — 56.9% (5,374)

Undecided/No Opinion — 5.9% (563)

6. Should the possession of semiautomatic military-style assault weapons be prohibited except for peace officers, servicemembers, and other government officers authorized to possess a weapon while acting within the scope of their duties?

Yes — 75.2% (7,083)

No — 20.5% (1,929)

Undecided/No Opinion — 4.3% (407)

7. Red light cameras are used for enforcement of speeding violations and traffic-control signal violations. Should they be banned in Minnesota?

Yes — 47.8% (4,480)

No — 38.9% (3,649)

Undecided/No Opinion — 13.2% (1,241)

8. [This question will be on the November 2026 ballot.] “Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to increase the funding going to all school districts from the permanent school fund, which is a fund that supports school districts without raising individual income or property taxes, effective July 1, 2027?”

Yes — 77.7% (7,305)

No — 11.7% (1,102)

Undecided/No Opinion — 10.5% (986)

9. Should driverless vehicles be regulated in Minnesota, including requirements for vehicle operations and insurance?

Yes — 92.1% (8,697)

No — 4.0% (380)

Undecided/No Opinion — 3.8% (363)

10. Should iron ore be designated as the state mineral?

Yes — 42.5% (3,993)

No — 13.4% (1,263)

Undecided/No Opinion — 44.1% (4,150)

11. Should tips and overtime pay be exempt from state income tax?

Yes — 52.1% (4,896)

No — 37.2% (3,498)

Undecided/No Opinion — 10.7% (1,004)

12. Should government entities be prohibited from acquiring and using facial recognition technology?

Yes — 59.4% (5,599)

No — 25.2% (2,374)

Undecided/No Opinion — 15.5% (1,458)