Republican Rep. Jim Hagedorn dies at 59 years old

Republican Rep. Jim Hagedorn of Minnesota has died, according to his wife, Jennifer Carnahan, who announced the news in a Friday Facebook post.

"It is with a broken heart, shattered spirit and overwhelming sadness I share my husband Congressman Jim Hagedorn passed away peacefully last night," Carnahan wrote.

Carnahan, who married Hagedorn in 2018, did not mention a cause of death in the Facebook post, but the congressman had been battling cancer for some time. He was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2019, and in a July 2021 statement, Hagedorn announced a reoccurrence of the cancer.

"Over the weekend, recent tests conducted at the Mayo Clinic revealed a reoccurrence of my kidney cancer. The new diagnosis was surprising considering that just 14 weeks ago no cancer was detected," Hagedorn had said in the statement last summer.

The lawmaker, who had been serving in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2019, announced in January that he had tested positive for COVID-19.

"Last night I was informed I tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. I did receive the vaccination and gratefully I am experiencing very mild symptoms," the congressman said in the January statement.

The current makeup of the House now includes 222 Democrats, 211 Republicans, and two vacancies. Aside from the vacancy created by Hagedorn's death, the other vacancy is due to the resignation of former GOP Rep. Devin Nunes of California.

"The entire House Republican Conference mourns the loss of our friend and colleague @RepHagedorn," tweeted House GOP Conference chair Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York. "Jim was a brave and tireless advocate for his constituents throughout his time in Congress. He was a fighter. We pray for his family and community. He will be deeply missed."