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Minnesota Senate unanimously repeals Cesar Chavez state holiday after New York Times allegations
Summary
The Minnesota Senate passed House File 4541 on March 26, 2026, removing Cesar Chavez Day from the state holiday calendar after sponsors cited a recent New York Times investigation alleging sexual abuse by Chavez; the vote was 67-0.
ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Senate on Thursday voted unanimously to repeal the state holiday recognizing Cesar Chavez, approving House File 4541 after floor sponsors cited recent news reporting that they said raised questions about Chavez's legacy.
Sen. Pappas, the bill's chief floor sponsor, asked colleagues to "repeal Minnesota's Cesar Chavez state holiday" and said the action was taken "out of respect and admiration for the survivors who came forward." She told the chamber that a New York Times investigation published the prior week "revealed Chavez sexually abused and assaulted underage girls," and said Minnesota should seek other ways to honor its Latino communities without celebrating an individual accused of abuse.
Supporters framed the repeal as overdue. "This repeal is long overdue and fully deserved," Sen. Holmstrom said, arguing historical accounts of Chavez's conduct and ideology made the holiday inappropriate. Sen. Mann urged members to view the change as an opportunity to highlight women's leadership within the farmworker movement and not let one man's wrongdoing define a community's contributions.
The roll call was taken under Rule 40.7 to capture remote votes; the Secretary announced there were 67 yeas and zero nays and the bill was passed with its title agreed to.
Why it matters: Sponsors said the repeal is intended to recognize survivors and avoid honoring a figure whose conduct, they said, has been called into question. Opponents of similar measures in other legislatures have sometimes argued over historical context and the best way to commemorate communities; on Thursday the Minnesota Senate resolved that question by removing the holiday.
What happens next: With passage in the Senate, the measure proceeds under the legislative process for acting on the change to the state holiday calendar. The floor action recorded on March 26 was final for the Senate; the bill's next procedural steps will follow the legislature's normal enrollment and concurrence process.
Sources: Floor presentation and roll call on House File 4541, Minnesota Senate, March 26, 2026. Direct quotes are attributed to senators as they appeared on the Senate floor.
