January 1, GOP Congressman Dead at 59

Rep. Jim Hagedorn (R-MN) has died of kidney cancer. He was 59.

Hagedorn had served in Congress since 2019, following in the footsteps of his father, who represented the same district in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He announced his stage 4 kidney cancer diagnosis in April 2019.

“Jim loved our country and loved representing the people of southern Minnesota. 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,” said Jennifer Carnahan, Hagedorn’s wife.

Carnahan described feeling “unimaginable pain, intense sorrow, suffocating grief and seemingly never-ending emptiness” at her husband’s passing.

Colleagues mourned Hagedorn, remembering his work in the Treasury Department before returning to Minnesota for a Congressional bid.

“Jim and I served in the U.S. House during a time of many great challenges for our nation and for our state — and all the while, he bravely endured the personal challenge of cancer treatment with dignity and grace while serving our country and his constituents,” Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) said.

“Despite our policy differences on many issues, Jim and I were united in the common goal of achieving greater opportunities for future generations of Minnesotans.”

Former President Donald Trump said: “Hagedorn was a strong and effective legislator for the great people of Southern Minnesota. I campaigned with Jim in 2018, and enjoyed working with him in Congress. May he rest in Peace, and his family find comfort during this difficult time.”

“He will be greatly missed!”

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Source:

Minnesota Rep. Jim Hagedorn dies at 59 after cancer battle