After Surviving June Attack, Minnesota Sen. John Hoffman Returns to Public Stage, Urges Democrats to “Build Trust”

After Surviving June Attack, Minnesota Sen. John Hoffman Returns to Public Stage, Urges Democrats to “Build Trust”

MINNEAPOLIS — Aug. 26, 2025. Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman’s first major public appearance since being shot and seriously wounded in a June 14 political assassination attempt came on Sunday, Aug. 25, when he addressed the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) summer meeting in Minneapolis.

The Champlin Democrat, who walked onstage to a standing ovation, spoke for more than 10 minutes — just two months after he and his wife, Yvette, were shot multiple times in their home. The same coordinated attack killed former Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark.

Still recovering from his injuries and with a rod in his finger, Hoffman appeared energized and determined as he delivered a message of both hope and warning.

A Message of Hope and Warning

Calling the attack “pure evil,” Hoffman described the shootings as “a political attack on public servants and public service” that was “aimed squarely… at our party.” He warned that “dehumanizing narratives and conspiracy theories” can radicalize individuals and transform rhetoric into violence.

He urged Democrats to recommit to rebuilding trust in government by returning to “the honest work of governing” — not “spin, not grievance, not the easy applause lines.” Instead, he called for leadership rooted in service over self and action over anger, stressing the need to inspire Americans without fueling intimidation or political violence.

Hoffman also paid tribute to his late colleague Melissa Hortman, whom he described as “the most consequential House speaker in Minnesota history.” He closed his remarks by echoing her signature rallying cry: “Let’s f**ing go.”

Other speakers at the DNC gathering, including Gov. Tim Walz and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, also addressed the June shootings and honored Hortman’s legacy.

The June 14 Attacks

Authorities say a man posing as law enforcement carried out the coordinated assaults, fatally shooting the Hortmans at their Brooklyn Park home and wounding the Hoffmans hours later at their Champlin residence.

Federal prosecutors later charged Vance Boelter, 57, in a sweeping indictment that included counts of murder, attempted murder, and interstate stalking.

Gov. Walz condemned the violence as a targeted political attack. The killings prompted a multi-agency investigation and heightened security concerns for Minnesota lawmakers.

Hoffman’s Recovery

Hoffman was shot nine times and underwent multiple surgeries before being transferred to a rehabilitation facility in July. In earlier statements, he credited first responders and the outpouring of community support with helping him recover.

By August, he began making cautious returns to public life — including a video message to state legislators — before his high-profile DNC speech. His remarks on Sunday underscored his determination to continue serving Minnesotans and to carry forward Hortman’s legacy.

Looking Ahead

The DNC’s summer meeting continued in Minneapolis through the week, following the Republican National Committee’s Aug. 22 gathering in Atlanta, where members elected a new national chairman.

For Hoffman, his return to the stage symbolized more than personal resilience: it was a call for Democrats to rise above grievance-based politics and to rebuild public trust at a time of national polarization.

“The honest work of governing is how we inspire Americans,” Hoffman said. “And it’s how we prove that trust, once broken, can be rebuilt.”

Timeline of Events

• June 14, 2025 – Melissa and Mark Hortman fatally shot in Brooklyn Park; John and Yvette Hoffman wounded in Champlin.
• June 15, 2025 – Gov. Walz denounces the violence as a political attack.
• July 2025 – Federal grand jury indicts suspect Vance Boelter on multiple counts.
• August 2025 – Hoffman makes limited public remarks, honoring Hortman’s legacy.
• Aug. 25, 2025 – Hoffman delivers keynote remarks at the DNC summer meeting in Minneapolis.

MinneapoliMedia