Rep. Jim Hagedorn, who represented Minnesota’s 1st District in Congress the past three years, died Thursday night following a battle with kidney cancer. He was 59.

His wife, Jennifer Carnahan, shared news of the Minnesota Republican’s death in a Facebook post Friday morning.

“It is with a broken heart, shattered spirit and overwhelming sadness I share my husband Congressman Jim Hagedorn passed away peacefully last night,” wrote Carnahan, who is chairwoman of the Republican Party of Minnesota.

“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. 

Hagedorn was diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer in February 2019, shortly after taking office. In December 2020, he underwent surgery to have the kidney and surrounding cancerous tissues removed. But in July of last year, Hagedorn announced he had a recurrence of the cancer.

In early January, he said he tested positive for COVID-19.

The son of a congressman, Hagedorn was elected to Congress in 2018 and was reelected in 2020. His district stretches along the length of the state’s southern border.

On Twitter, he called his time serving in the House “the greatest privilege of my life.”

Early in his first term, Hagedorn said his focus on Capitol Hill was to “take power from Washington and give it back to the people.” He introduced several bills aimed at helping workers, farmers and small businesses. 

In his last tweet Wednesday, Hagedorn shared a letter that he and other congressional Republicans sent to President Joe Biden urging him “to rectify the unbalanced agricultural trade relationship with China.”

But Hagedorn was a sometimes controversial figure, too.

From 2002-08, he ran a blog called Mr. Conservative, in which he made homophobic and misogynistic comments. He was attacked over the blog during multiple campaigns but defended it as an attempt at satire. 

"Over the years, I wrote political commentary … and poked fun at national politicians," Hagedorn told the Star Tribune in 2014. "This is old stuff that's been out there” for years.

Hagedorn also was a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump and voted against certifying Biden’s win in Arizona and Pennsylvania just hours after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. 

Many politicians Friday paid tribute to Hagedorn or offered sympathies to his family.

"Congressman Jim Hagedorn was a strong and effective legislator for the great people of Southern Minnesota," 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. He will be missed!"

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., called Hagedorn "a patriot who will be remembered for his strong Christian faith, his deep passion for serving others, and his joyful spirit."

"Jim lived and breathed the spirit of determined optimism that is embedded in the American way of life all the way till the end," McCarthy said in a statement. "Even while battling cancer, Jim never stopped working to better the lives of his constituents and his fellow Americans. He always put others ahead of himself.

"As a colleague and a friend, I’ve been honored to serve with Jim for two terms," McCarthy concluded. "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. May God bless them during this difficult time."

Tweeted Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., House minority whip: “Very sad to learn that my good friend & colleague @RepHagedorn passed away. Jim was a strong conservative with a great sense of humor who loved this country & worked tirelessly for the people he represented."

“The entire @HouseGOP mourns the loss of our friend and colleague @RepHagedorn,” tweeted Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, chairwoman of the House Republican conference. “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.”

Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., released a statement saying: “Jim was 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 (Minnesota) to Washington.”

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat who defeated Hagedorn in two congressional races, wrote that he and his wife “are thinking of Congressman Jim Hagedorn’s family and loved ones today. May they find peace during this difficult time.”

The current makeup of the House now stands at 222-211 favoring Democrats, with two vacancies: one left by Hagedorn, the other by the resignation of California Republican Rep. Devin Nunes last month.