Minnesota’s Rep. Jim Hagedorn dies at 59 after cancer battle

Rep. Jim Hagedorn, a second-term Republican from southern Minnesota, died on Thursday at the age of 59.

Mr. Hagedorn was battling kidney cancer and had tested positive for COVID-19 in January.

His wife, Jennifer Carnahan, confirmed the news in a Facebook post on Friday.

“It is with a broken heart, shattered spirit and overwhelming sadness I share my husband Congressman Jim Hagedorn passed away peacefully last night,” Ms. Carnahan wrote. “Jim loved our country and loved representing the people of southern Minnesota. Every moment of every day he lived his dream by serving others.”

Ms. Carnahan, the former chairwoman of the Minnesota GOP, added that there was “no stronger conservative” than her husband.

Minnesota GOP Reps. Pete Stauber, Tom Emmer and Michelle Fischbach called Mr. Hagedorn a “dear friend” who “wanted nothing more than to represent the people of Minnesota’s First District in Congress.”

“He did so every day with an unwavering passion and unshakable joy that brightened the halls of Congress and brought the best of Blue Earth to Washington. Our thoughts are with Jim’s family during this time and we will continue to pray for them. We will miss Jim dearly,” the lawmakers said in a statement.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California called Mr. Hagedorn a “patriot” and shared a photo of them with Ms. Carnahan.

“As a colleague and a friend, I’ve been honored to serve with Jim for two terms,” Mr. McCarthy said. “The entire Republican Conference is lifting up his wife Jennifer and the entire Hagedorn family in prayer to send them strength as they mourn the loss of a beloved husband, brother, and son.”

Former President Donald Trump said the congressman will be greatly missed.

“Congressman Jim Hagedorn was a strong and effective legislator for the great people of Southern Minnesota,” Mr. Trump said in a statement. “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.”

Mr. Hagedorn represented Minnesota’s largely rural 1st District. He was first elected to Congress in 2018, flipping a seat that had been held by Democrats for more than a decade.

Mr. Hagedorn was the son of former Rep. Tom Hagedorn and a longtime Republican aide.