Rep. Jim Hagedorn (R-Minn.) has died, his family confirmed on Friday. He was 59.
“It is with a broken heart, shattered spirit and overwhelming sadness I share my husband Congressman Jim Hagedorn passed away peacefully last night,” Hagedorn’s wife, former Minnesota state Republican party chair Jennifer Carnahan, wrote on social media.
She did not say what caused his death.
Hagedorn, who previously authored the blog Mr. Conservative, was elected to the House in 2018. He represented Minnesota’s 1st congressional district.
“Jim loved our country and loved representing the people of southern Minnesota,” Carnahan added. “Every moment of every day he lived his dream by serving others. There was no stronger conservative in our state than my husband; and it showed in how he voted, led and fought for our country.”
Hagedorn was diagnosed with stage four kidney cancer in 2019 and received immunotherapy to treat the cancer.
“Today, one year later, I am happy to say I feel great and continue to perform my job in Congress unimpeded,” Hagedorn said in early 2020. “I have not missed even a single vote due to illness.”
But his office announced in December 2020 that he underwent surgery to remove the kidney before he said in July 2021 that the cancer had returned. Last month, Hagedorn said he checked into the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Minnesota after a COVID-19 diagnosis, and he added that he is vaccinated for the virus.
“While nothing can accurately prepare you for the unimaginable pain, intense sorrow, suffocating grief and seemingly never-ending emptiness that engulfs the entire body, soul and spirit when your forever love passes away; at least we can smile knowing Jim is smiling from heaven encouraging us to keep chasing our dreams, loving unconditionally and fighting for the country,” Carnahan added in her social media post.
Former President Donald Trump issued a statement on Hagedorn’s death, saying he was “a strong and effective legislator for the great people of Southern Minnesota.”
