DULUTH — Former U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan, who served two stints in Congress decades apart, has died. He was 80.

Nolan most recently served three terms as Northeastern Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District representative, retiring in early 2019.

Rep. Rick Nolan, D-Minn., accompanied by fellow House Democrats, gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, June 16, 2016(AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)

“Rick Nolan was a champion for the Northland who fought fiercely to protect working people from corporate interests,” Minnesota DFL Chairman Ken Martin said in a statement. “From Ely to Duluth, he was an ambassador for the DFL creed that ‘we all do better when we all do better.’ Our thoughts are with his family and all who came to know and love this dedicated public servant.”

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar also issued a statement Friday, saying Nolan was “an incredible friend that dedicated his life to public service and his family.”

“With his thunderous voice and passion for the people, Rick was a one-of-a-kind leader,” Klobuchar said. “He was the comeback kid. He went from being one of the youngest members of Congress to being one of the oldest freshmen when he was sworn in again at 69. He was the consummate outdoorsman, friend of labor, and he never forgot where he came from. John and my thoughts and prayers are with Mary and his family.”

Nolan, a Brainerd native, previously served three terms as the 6th District representative, from 1975-81, before taking a 32-year break from Congress. He unseated one-term Republican Chip Cravaack in 2012 for the 8th District and went on to win reelection in two of the closest and most-expensive congressional races in the country.

A cause of death was not immediately released.

This is a developing story; check back for updates. The Pioneer Press contributed to this report.