A local unit of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party endorsed a legislative candidate who is “a convicted violent criminal with a history of stalking and abusive behavior,” according to the House Republican Campaign Committee.
Judd Hoff won the DFL endorsement for the District 12B seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives earlier this month. District 12B is currently held by Republican Rep. Mary Franson, R-Alexandria. Hoff has run for office in the past. However, the newly-endorsed DFL candidate has become the subject of scrutiny following reports on Hoff’s criminal history and behavior toward Rep. Franson.
In 2021, Hoff was convicted of a felony following an altercation with another man in which Hoff wielded a machete in a threatening manner. Sentenced to 13 months in a correctional facility, Hoff’s sentence was a downward departure in the sentencing guidelines as he was not the initial aggressor in the incident. A separate felony charge, from a separate machete incident involving Hoff, was dismissed.
According to Rep. Franson, Hoff is a neighbor of hers who has protested the Alexandria legislator “for years.” Michael Brodkorb, an independent journalist and Republican insider, recently reported on Hoff’s behavior toward Rep. Franson.
In his reporting, Brodkorb said Hoff has “dug through Franson’s garbage,” “posted multiple pictures of Franson’s home,” publicly shared Franson’s phone number, and Hoff “knew where Franson lived when he moved into her neighborhood.” According to Brodkorb, Hoff has other convictions for disorderly conduct and damaging property.
Following Hoff’s endorsement by the DFL and reports on Hoff’s behavior, Republicans began to call on the DFL to renounce the candidate.
“Democrats must withdraw their endorsement of this repeat criminal,” said Rep. Josh Heintzeman, R-Nisswa, chair of the House Republican Campaign Committee (HRCC). “For years he has harassed and stalked Rep. Franson by digging through her trash, publishing her address and contact information, filming her at her private residence, and relentlessly sending rude and threatening messages online.”
“While I have no doubt that Rep. Franson will overwhelmingly win re-election, this man belongs nowhere near the ballot and the DFL should make clear that this behavior will not be tolerated,” added Rep. Heintzeman.
David Hann, the chairman of the Minnesota Republican Party, also released a statement condemning the endorsement of Hoff.
“Saturday’s endorsement of Judd Hoff by the Minnesota DFL normalizes his threatening behavior towards Representative Mary Franson and normalizes the increased rancor and crime that disturbingly continues to escalate within politics today. The Minnesota DFL must urgently and unequivocally condemn this type of behavior and take immediate action to rescind its endorsement of Judd Hoff,” said Chairman Hann.
The DFL Party released a statement in which it disavowed the endorsement and described Hoff as “unfit for elected office.”
“The kind of violent and threatening behaviors that Mr. Hoff has engaged in have no place in the Minnesota DFL party,” said Ken Martin, the chairman of the DFL Party. “The Minnesota DFL strongly disavows this endorsement, and I have asked the local unit in question to withdraw their endorsement immediately.”
“The Minnesota DFL will not spend any of our resources on behalf of Mr. Hoff,” added Chairman Martin.
Luke Sprinkel
Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.
