diff --git a/.changes/unreleased/Fixes-20230803-102915.yaml b/.changes/unreleased/Fixes-20230803-102915.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6070fb448
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changes/unreleased/Fixes-20230803-102915.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+kind: Fixes
+body: Requiring Python >=3.8 enables walrus operator
+time: 2023-08-03T10:29:15.371798-06:00
+custom:
+  Author: cemsbr dbeatty10
+  Issue: "849"
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 24b91844d..de3d66438 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 import sys
 import re
 
-# require python 3.7 or newer
+# require a supported version of Python
 if sys.version_info < (3, 8):
     print("Error: dbt does not support this version of Python.")
     print("Please upgrade to Python 3.8 or higher.")
@@ -86,5 +86,5 @@ def _get_dbt_core_version():
         "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9",
         "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10",
     ],
-    python_requires=">=3.7",
+    python_requires=">=3.8",
 )