Former state Republican party chair Jennifer Carnahan, talking publicly for the first time about the death of her husband, first district Congressman Jim Hagedorn.
"It's hour by hour, minute by minute," said Carnahan, her voice at times filled with emotion while talking on Friday with Vineeta Sawkar on the WCCO Morning News.
"Every day is kind of a struggle," she said. "He had shared with me a couple days before he passed that he loved life, he loved his job."
Hagedorn died Feb. 17 of kidney cancer at the age of 59.
"Just thinking about him not being here anymore just breaks my heart every time it floats into my mind."
There is already talk about who'll run to fill out Hagedorn's term, and Carnahan says it's just too soon.
"I think it's disappointing to see people talking so much about this and floating different names out there," she said. "We need to honor and continue to remember my husband."
Carnahan said funeral arrangements are expected to be finalized Friday or Saturday.
Secretary of State Steve Simon has released the timeline for filling the vacancy.
Filing for candidacy must end March 15th, with a special primary on May 24th.
The special election takes place August 9th under current congressional district boundaries, and not the ones released earlier this month.
Whoever wins the special election will serve out the remainder of Hagedorn's term, which ends next January.