2021 in Minnesota

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See also:	History of Minnesota Historical outline of Minnesota List of years in Minnesota 2021 in the United States

The following is a list of events of the year 2021 in Minnesota .

Incumbents

• Governor: Tim Walz (D) ^[1]
• Lieutenant Governor: Peggy Flanagan (DFL) ^[2]

Events

• February 9 – A mass shooting at the Allina Clinic Crossroads in Buffalo, Minnesota kills one person and injures four others, prompting statewide mourning and a flag-lowering order. ^{[3] [4]}

• March 12 – The Minneapolis City Council approves a $27 million civil settlement with George Floyd’s family. ^[5]

• April 11 – Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, is fatally shot in Brooklyn Center by police officer Kimberly Potter. ^{[6] [7]}

• April 20 – Derek Chauvin is found guilty on all three counts in the death of George Floyd, prompting large gatherings in Minneapolis and across Minnesota. ^[8]

• May 14 – Governor Walz lifts the statewide mask mandate. ^{[9] [10]}

• May 25 – First anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, with official commemorations and a statewide moment of silence ordered by Governor Walz. ^[11]

• June 3 – Law enforcement fatally shoots Winston Boogie Smith Jr, a 32-year-old man, in the Uptown area of Minneapolis. ^[12]

• June 25 – Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is sentenced to 22½ years in state prison for the murder of George Floyd, and to 21 years in federal prison for violating Floyd's civil rights. ^{[13] [14]}

• August 15 – Greenwood Fire in northeastern Minnesota is first spotted at a few hundred acres; it grows to over 40 square miles within about two weeks, destroying cabins and outbuildings. ^{[15] [16]}

• August 26 – The Minnesota State Fair reopens for the first time since 2019, with reduced attendance and some vendors opting out due to COVID concerns. ^[17]

• October 10 – A mass shooting at the Seventh Street Truck Park bar in St. Paul, near the Xcel Energy Center, leaves one person dead and multiple injured. ^[18]

• November 2 –
  • 2021 Minneapolis municipal election ^[19]
  • 2021 Minneapolis mayoral election – Incumbent DFL mayor Jacob Frey wins reelection to a second term. ^[20]
  • 2021 Saint Paul mayoral election – Incumbent DFL mayor Melvin Carter III wins reelection to a second term. ^{[21] [22]}

References

1. "Governor Tim Walz / Office of Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan". Office of Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
2. Halnon, Emily (August 18, 2023). "Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan Uses Her CLA Degree "Every Single Day"". College of Liberal Arts. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
3. "Minnesota health clinic shooting leaves 1 dead, 4 injured – DW – 02/09/2021". dw.com. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
4. Berg, Grace Hauck and Jenny. "Gunman kills one, injures four at Minnesota clinic; cops say suspect 'unhappy with medical care'". USA TODAY. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
5. Treisman, Rachel (March 12, 2021). "Minneapolis Reaches $27 Million Settlement With Family Of George Floyd". NPR. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
6. Press, -Associated Press Associated (April 24, 2023). "Minnesota officer who killed Daunte Wright in 2021 released from prison". PBS News. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
7. "The killing of Daunte Wright and trial of Kimberly Potter". MPR News. October 6, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
8. "Derek Chauvin Guilty On All 3 Counts In George Floyd's Death - CBS Minnesota". www.cbsnews.com. April 20, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
9. "Gov. Tim Walz signs order ending Minnesota mask mandate". kare11.com. May 13, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
10. Richert, Catharine; Cox, Peter (May 14, 2021). "The state has lifted its COVID-19 mask mandate. Here's what that means for you". MPR News. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
11. "Moment of Silence to Honor George Floyd". Office of Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
12. Ibrahim, -Mohamed; Ibrahim, Associated Press Mohamed; Press, Associated (June 4, 2021). "Unrest erupts after man dies in Minneapolis arrest attempt". PBS News. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
13. "Former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin Sentenced to More Than 20 Years in Prison for Depriving George Floyd and a Minor Victim of their Constitutional Rights". www.justice.gov. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
14. "Derek Chauvin sentenced to 21 years on federal charges for violating George Floyd's civil rights". ABC News. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
15. Nelson, Tim (August 15, 2022). "From its start one year ago, Greenwood Fire changed landscape of northeast Minnesota". MPR News. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
16. "Greenwood fire – MNICS.org". mnics.org. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
17. Nelson, Tim (August 26, 2021). "A few changes, a bit of familiarity: Minnesota State Fair returns". MPR News. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
18. Nelson, Tim (October 10, 2021). "1 dead, at least 14 others injured in St. Paul shooting; 3 suspects arrested". MPR News. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
19. Minneapolis, City of. "2021 Election results". vote.minneapolismn.gov. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
20. Collins, Jon; Montgomery, David H. (November 3, 2021). "Frey wins second term as Minneapolis mayor". MPR News. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
21. Oot, Torey Van (November 3, 2021). "St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter wins second term". Axios. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
22. "Mayoral election in St. Paul, Minnesota (2021)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 2, 2026.