John Hoffman (Minnesota politician)

American politician (born 1965)

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John A. Hoffman (born January 17, 1965) is an American politician and member of the Minnesota Senate. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), he represents District 34, which includes parts of Anoka and Hennepin County in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

Hoffman and his wife, along with fellow Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, were shot in a 2025 spree shooting. Hoffman and his wife were hospitalized; neither Hortman nor her husband survived.

Early life and career

Hoffman was born in Casper, Wyoming, on January 17, 1965. Before being elected to the Minnesota Legislature, he served as a member of the Anoka-Hennepin School District Board, beginning in 2005.

Before that, Hoffman was a member of the Federal Interagency Coordinating Council, assisting and advising Cabinet members on their response to children from birth to age eight, especially those with special health-care needs.

Minnesota Senate

Hoffman was first elected to the Minnesota Senate seat representing the 36th district in 2012, defeating incumbent Benjamin Kruse. He was reelected in 2016, 2020, and 2022. Due to redistricting before the election, Hoffman was elected to represent the 34th district in 2022. Hoffman served as the minority whip from 2017 to 2020. He currently chairs the Human Services Committee.

Assassination attempt

On June 14, 2025, a man shot Hoffman nine times and his wife, Yvette, eight times at their home. They were both hospitalized. The same man later shot and killed Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband at their home. Both Hoffmans underwent emergency surgery, and Yvette's condition was initially described as "unclear".

On June 15, the suspected shooter, 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, was arrested. On June 16, the capture of and charges against Boelter were announced at a press conference led by US Attorney for the District of Minnesota Joseph H. Thompson.

On June 19, Hoffman and his wife released a joint statement describing the details of the assassination attempt and their heartbreak at the loss of the Hortmans. The same day, Yvette Hoffman was released from the hospital.

After three weeks in the ICU, in July 2025, Hoffman was released from the hospital and transferred to a rehabilitation facility to continue his recovery.

On August 25, 2025, Hoffman made his first public appearance since the shooting speaking at the Democratic National Committee's summer meeting in Minneapolis.