Former U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan dies at 66

Former Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan of North Carolina died Monday morning, her family has announced. She was 66.

Hagan beat out Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole in 2008 and served a single term before current Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) narrowly beat her in 2014. She died of complications from a longstanding illness, her family said in a statement.

Hagan's seat in the then-Democratic Senate secured a narrow 60-vote victory for the Affordable Care Act, though some say that vote cost Hagan her seat. She previously spent a decade as a North Carolina state senator from the Greensboro area.

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"We are heartbroken to share that Kay left us unexpectedly this morning," Hagan's family said in a Monday statement. In 2016, she had been diagnosed with Powassan virus, which is a type of encephalitis, per the Charlotte Observer. Prior to announcing her diagnosis, Hagan had considered running for incumbent Sen. Richard Burr's (R-N.C.) seat in 2016, but ultimately declined.

A number of senators, former senators, and even political rivals sent their condolences after the Monday announcement. Kathryn Krawczyk