Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic announces she has cancer

Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic announced Tuesday that she has cancer.

The Minneapolis Democrat said in a statement that she had an abnormal Pap smear test in late December and underwent further tests. She said her doctors on Friday recommended that she should have surgery on Monday to remove a cancerous tumor.

"The surgery was a success; and I am grateful to my doctors, nurses, and all the support staff at the University of Minnesota for the care I received," she said.

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Dziedzic said she plans to return to the Capitol soon, but will continue to lead Senate Democrats and serve her district remotely in the meantime.

Minnesota Legislature Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic at a morning press conference on Jan. 4, 2023. Dziedzic announced on Tuesday that she has cancer.  (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via Getty Images)

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"Regular check-ups are key to early detection and prevention of the spread of cancer," she said. "I urge everyone to visit their doctor and prioritize preventative care."

Her statement did not specify what kind of cancer her doctors diagnosed.

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Dziedzic became majority leader for the 2023 session after helping Democrats take control of the Senate, putting them in control of both houses of the Legislature and the governor's office for the first time in eight years. Democrats have used their "trifecta" to swiftly pass a long list of pent-up priorities they couldn't when Republicans controlled the Senate, including new protections for abortion rights.