Conflicts Over Wage Floors: What Led to Minimum Wage Increases in the US States Between 2013 and 2022?

ABSTRACT After 2013, the number of statewide minimum wage increases in the United States surged. However, not every state followed the trend. Some refrained from minimum wage legislation completely. This article examines the causes of differences in state minimum wage policies from 2013 to 2022, taking a qualitative perspective on minimum wage politics in the context of polarized party politics, mobilized low‐wage workers, and direct democracy in times of federal policy gridlock. Using Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), I find that minimum wage campaigns, such as the Fight for 15 movement, were critical in driving state minimum wage legislation. However, such campaigns only led to minimum wage increases in combination with either a Democratic trifecta or a ballot initiative. Related Articles Haselswerdt, J. 2026. “Do Americans Exhibit ‘Welfare Chauvinism? ’ Experimental Evidence on Social Welfare, Immigration, and Voting. ” Politics & Policy 54, no. 3: e70136. https: //doi. org/10. 1111/polp. 70136. Wagle, U. R. 2013. “The Heterogeneity Politics of the Welfare State: Changing Population Heterogeneity and Welfare State Policies in High‐Income OECD Countries, 1980‐2005. ” Politics & Policy 41, no. 6: 947–984. https: //doi. org/10. 1111/polp. 12053. Butz, A. M. and J. E. Kehrberg. 2015. “Social Distrust and Immigrant Access to Welfare Programs in the American States. ” Politics & Policy 43, no. 2: 256–286. https: //doi. org/10. 1111/polp. 12115.