The five states that increased the minimum wage during the 2014 Mid-Term Elections are Alaska, Arkansas, Illinois, Nebraska, and South Dakota.

Illinois had the highest minimum wage increase from $8.25 to $10.00. Alaska’s minimum wage of $7.75 to $9.75 was the second highest, followed by Nebraska’s minimum wage increase from $7.25 to $9.00.

Arkansas ($6.25 minimum wage) and South Dakota’s ($7.25 minimum wage) minimum wages will increase to $8.50. The minimum wage has been a top issue for Democrats.

Earlier this year, President Obama signed an executive order that increased the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour for federal contract workers.

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) sponsored a minimum wage bill that would increase the minimum wage for all workers from $7.25 per hour to $10.10 per hour, but the Senate failed to pass the bill in April 2014.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Washington D.C. plus 23 states have a higher minimum wage than the federal government.

There are a total of 19 states that have the same minimum wage as the federal government, and there are five states (Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee) that do not have a minimum wage requirement.