After a life-threatening brain hemorrhage and months of recuperation, Sen. Tim Johnson was greeting home state voters Tuesday in his first public appearance since falling ill last year.

Johnson, D-S.D., is expected to return to the Senate for votes in early September, according to spokeswoman Julianne Fisher. His return comes almost nine months after he fell ill in the Capitol.

Tuesday's celebration in Sioux Falls was a carefully choreographed gathering that could take on the appearance of a campaign event — Johnson is up for re-election next year but has not yet said whether he will run again.

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