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As the nation has watched the Republican National Convention unfold on television and online, four members of the Freeborn County GOP Party have had a front-row seat to the convention as delegates and alternates.

Out of Minnesota’s 39 delegate votes, Freeborn County GOP Chairman Robert Hoffman was elected as an at-large state delegate to take part in the convention, along with 1st Congressional District Chairman Aaron Farris, 21, who was elected as a delegate for the district. Shannon Cox has served as an at-large alternate delegate, and his nephew Jackson Cox, 18, as an alternate delegate for the congressional district.

Hoffman said he cannot recall that many people from Freeborn County being elected to go to a single  national convention before.

“History is being made here,” he said. “The four of us from Freeborn County will help shape the future of local politics being a part of this historical week.”

The men arrived on Sunday afternoon for a welcoming event that included Trace Adkins with all of the other delegates from around the country, and the convention itself kicked off on Monday.

“Milwaukee has done an amazing job of being the host city here,” Hoffman said.

He described the air as “thick” after the Saturday assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump and said he has had numerous friends reach out and offer their prayers and express concern for him being there.

Despite the worries, the convention has gone on well, albeit with higher security.

As of Wednesday morning, Hoffman said his favorite parts had been when Trump came into the convention center the first evening.

“That just hit the light switch,” he said. “You just knew the energy was going to follow the rest of the week. … When we saw him for the first time walk in, that changed the game — it turned the volume up, it really did.”

One of his favorite speakers to watch was Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and he also enjoyed hearing the Teamsters Union president, noting it was the first time a Teamsters president addressed the RNC in 150 years.

Hoffman said his seat was an estimated 20 feet from where Trump has been seated during the convention and noted the importance of the Minnesota delegation as the state is sought after this election.

“Minnesota has not at all been forgotten in this,” he said.

Each day has had a different theme with different speakers, leading up to Trump’s Vice President running mate J.D. Vance on Wednesday and Trump on Thursday.

In addition to seeing many prominent Republicans and hearing their messages, Hoffman said his other favorite part of the convention has been sharing it with three others from Freeborn County that he is with. He said he thinks the local GOP party will be stronger because of what they have witnessed and learned during the convention, and he is proud of the next generation represented at the convention from Freeborn County.

“I’m excited President Trump picked J.D. Vance and is keeping an eye on the future of the nation’s politics now,” Hoffman said. “I’m doing the same for Freeborn County while I transition out of being our county chairman after this year’s elections into more for local, regional and possibly state politics.”