The nation is in mourning after it was announced that U.S. Representative Jim Hagedorn (R-MN) had lost his battle with kidney cancer.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz ordered flags to be flown at half-staff on Saturday, February 19th in honor of Congressman Jim Hagedorn, who has passed away at the age of 59 after losing a battle with kidney cancer.
Jennifer Carnahan, Hagedorn’s wife and former GOP chairwoman, confirmed the news of his passing with 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS Friday morning.
Hagedorn received a diagnosis of stage 4 kidney cancer in 2019, and began treatment at Mayo Clinic in Rochester soon after. He later announced that he had one of his kidneys — and the cancerous tumors surrounding it — removed. Unfortunately, in 2021, Hagedorn announced that the cancer had returned.
Though the news of his passing was confirmed on Friday, February 18th, the Republican congressman died with his family present on Thursday.
“Hagedorn, a longtime GOP political aide and son of former GOP Rep. Tom Hagedorn, was first elected to represent southern Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District in 2018,” according to reporting by Axios.
In his first race in 2018, he barely won, beating the Democrat incumbent by just 1,500 votes. This seat had been held by Democrats for over 10 years before his upset victory.
Since being in Congress, Hagedorn had been fighting to give power back to the American people.
According to reporting from the StarTribune, Hagedorn said that he was working on, “how do you take power from Washington and give it back to the people, and some of that is how do you make sure people have the flexibility to use their money how they see fit — not the way the government tells them to.”
Hagedorn’s campaign released a statement about his legacy, which read:
“During his service, Jim’s focus was always on the priorities of the region: agriculture, small business, transportation, and our world class health care system. Moreover, he’ll forever be known as a commonsense conservative who championed fair tax policy, American energy independence, Peace Through Strength foreign policy, and southern Minnesota’s way of life and values.”
His wife issued a statement via social media, which read:
“It is with a broken heart, shattered spirit and overwhelming sadness I share my husband Congressman Jim Hagedorn passed away peacefully last night.
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.
Jim was a loving husband, son, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew, friend, brother-in-law, son-in-law, Vikings, Penguins and Twins fan and will be missed and remembered by many.
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.
Jim Hagedorn, I love you. I miss you. I feel empty without you. I will forever be holding your hand.”
