Democratic Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman accused Representative Angie Craig of seeking his endorsement for her U.S. Senate campaign while he was in intensive care. This followed an assassination attempt on his life in June 2025. He stated to NBC News that a ‘dear and trusted friend’ made the endorsement request twice, once during his stay in the ICU and again while recovering at home. The friend confirmed that the requests came from Congresswoman Craig.
Hoffman’s revelation came during a campaign event for Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who is also a contender for the Democratic Senate nomination. Hoffman remarked, ‘When [Craig] said she wanted my endorsement, she was doing that during moments when our family’s story had high visibility. That’s all you need to know about the difference between the opponent that Peggy has and Peggy Flanagan. Because Peggy Flanagan, she checked on us out of her love for how we were doing and if we were OK.’
Responding to the accusations, a spokesperson for Flanagan said, ‘That’s a matter between Congresswoman Craig and the Hoffmans.’ Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Craig labeled the claim as ‘categorically false.’ The statement noted that Craig only reached out to express deep sympathy and did not make another contact until August 5, after Hoffman resumed political endorsements. Craig maintains support for the Hoffmans during their recovery.
Craig rejected Hoffman’s claims in an interview with KMSP-TV in Minneapolis, to which Hoffman responded, ‘Let me be equally clear: I told the truth about what Yvette and I experienced,’ referring to himself and his wife, who was also targeted in the attack.
Text messages provided by the Craig campaign to NBC News show that Craig sent well-wishes on June 14, the day of the shooting. An August 5 message then expressed a desire to discuss the open Senate race ‘when you’re up to it.’ Hoffman was released from ICU on July 7.
NBC News attempted to contact and verify the ‘dear and trusted friend’ Hoffman mentioned, who purportedly visited him in the ICU.
Hoffman admitted that Craig sent a sympathy message following the attack, but stated his campaign remarks were in response to later endorsement requests. ‘It is dishonest to give condolences and then immediately ask for endorsement like her text showed,’ Hoffman claimed.
State Senator Erin Maye Quade, in an interview with NBC News, recounted a visit with Hoffman at the ICU rehabilitation facility in late July. Hoffman shared a story about a request for endorsement on Craig’s behalf. ‘He had mentioned that there was a friend of his that had come, who was also a surrogate and working with Angie’s campaign, and had asked him for his endorsement. We were both like, ‘Oh, it’s so inappropriate,’ and he was like: ‘I know. I think he felt really bad about doing it,’’ Quade explained. She added that the story was not secret and Hoffman discussed it openly since then.
Hoffman emphasized the difference in Flanagan’s approach, who maintained contact without seeking anything in return. ‘My remarks were about that contrast, and I remain accountable for every word I said,’ he affirmed. ‘Congresswoman Craig may disagree with my endorsement. She may defend her campaign’s conduct. But she does not get to rewrite what my family experienced or publicly attack my honesty.’
Separately, Vance Boelter, 59, pleaded guilty to six federal counts related to the stalking and shooting of the Hoffmans, and the murder of House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman. Boelter received two consecutive life terms in prison and an additional 40 years.