A Democratic state senator who survived an attempted assassination just six weeks ago has endorsed one of his legislative colleagues in the Minneapolis mayoral race.
Sen. John Hoffman, DFL-Champlin, delivered a video message to delegates attending last weekend’s DFL endorsing convention in Minneapolis. In that message, Hoffman endorsed fellow Sen. Omar Fateh to be the city’s next mayor. Shortly thereafter, Fateh received the endorsement, but not without controversy.
Hoffman, who filmed his address from a remote location, appeared before the crowd on a video screen and proclaimed, “I’m there in spirit.” During the video message, delegates cheered as Hoffman explained his decision to endorse Fateh.
“Let me tell you about Omar,” said Hoffman. “He leaves his ego in the hallway. He focuses on what’s important. He’s pragmatic, and it’s something that he showed me in the three years that he’s been my vice-chair. He’s had my back and I can count on Omar. I think we can all count on Omar. So, thank you. Let’s get Omar elected.”
Hoffman has served in the Senate since 2013. Beginning in 2023, he has served with Fateh on the Senate Human Services Committee where Hoffman is chair and Fateh is vice chair.
Hoffman gives first interview since surviving attempted assassination
In the early morning hours of June 14, Hoffman and his wife were shot multiple times in their home by a gunman who was impersonating a police officer. The senator and his wife have since been discharged from the hospital and are continuing to recover. The shooter also has been charged with attempting to shoot the Hoffmans’ daughter, and with murdering Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband.
Following the Minneapolis convention, Hoffman was interviewed on the “Al Travis Show,” a talk radio program Hoffman has regularly joined in recent years. This was the senator’s first interview since the attempted assassination.
“I’m just grateful to be alive, Al,” Hoffman said.
The pair talked about Hoffman’s continued recovery and even joked around, with Hoffman saying, “you know, the only other guy I know that survived nine bullet holes is 50 Cent. So maybe you should start calling me the 50 Senator.”
Hoffman mentioned that his wife continues to recover at home and she has been visiting him while he is on his own recovery journey at a rehabilitation facility. The senator joked about how hard the nurses are pushing him to regain his strength.
“I had to have humor in this because it is hard as hell,” said Hoffman, describing his daughter as a “hero.”
“There’s people alive because of how she said, you know, something on 911 that was just, but she was, you know, very much in charge,” he said. “Grateful, grateful for her big time.”
Hank Long
Hank Long is a journalism and communications professional whose writing career includes coverage of the Minnesota legislature, city and county governments and the commercial real estate industry. Hank received his undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota, where he studied journalism, and his law degree at the University of St. Thomas. The Minnesota native lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and four children. His dream is to be around when the Vikings win the Super Bowl.
