He was born 26 March 1973 in Porsgrunn to father, electrician Rolf Oddbjørn Hoksrud (1944-) and mother Karin Gulbrandsen (1947-).

Hoksrud, who originally was third in line for the leadership, was elected after Robert Eriksson and Fredrik Färber declined the post.

When Solberg's Cabinet assumed office following that election, Hoksrud was appointed as a State Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Communications under Ketil Solvik-Olsen.

[5] Hoksrud was appointed minister of agriculture and food on 31 August 2018 in a minor reshuffle following Ketil Solvik-Olsen's resignation.

[7] In November, Hoksrud lead the jury in Lillestrøm to hand out the annual Young Farmer award to 29 year old Olav Høyheim Einan.

He has a strong focus on sustainable production and operation and has made an enormous effort to expand the farm using local resources in an impressive way".

[12] While he supports a massive increase in road- and railway spending and construction, he believes this should be financed through the state budget.

[13] He once referred to the Minister of Transport Magnhild Meltveit Kleppa as a "modern day highwayman, due to her support for toll roads.

[14] He has been criticized for allegedly disregarding cases where the Progress Party itself votes in favour of toll roads on the municipal level.

[15] Generally opposed to taxes and restrictions on automobiles, Hoksrud accused prime minister Jens Stoltenberg of having a "hidden agenda" when the latter proposed a ban on diesel cars during specific days, in order to reduce pollution of CO2 and NOx gases, as well as extra taxation for diesel-run cars.

[19] On 21 September 2011, media outlet TV 2 reported that Hoksrud had visited a brothel in Riga, the capital of Latvia.