Former U.S. Representative Mia Love of Utah, the daughter of Haitian immigrants who made history as the first Black Republican woman elected to Congress, passed away on Sunday at the age of 49.
Her family announced her passing in a statement shared on her X account. Love had been receiving treatment for brain cancer, including immunotherapy as part of a clinical trial at Duke University’s Brain Tumor Center. Earlier this month, her daughter revealed that she was no longer responding to treatment.
Love died peacefully at her Saratoga Springs, Utah home, according to the family’s statement.
“With grateful hearts filled to overflowing for the profound influence of Mia on our lives, we want you to know that she passed away peacefully,” her family wrote. “We are thankful for the many good wishes, prayers, and condolences.”
Utah Governor Spencer Cox mourned her passing, calling her a “true friend” whose “legacy of service inspired all who knew her.”
Love’s political career began in 2003, when she won a seat on the Saratoga Springs City Council before becoming the city’s mayor. She later ran for Congress in 2012, narrowly losing to Democratic incumbent Jim Matheson. However, in 2014, she won her rematch against Doug Owens, securing a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
While Love did not emphasize her race in her campaigns, she acknowledged the significance of her victory in a predominantly white state. She defied skeptics who questioned whether a Black, Republican, Mormon woman could win a congressional seat in Utah.
During her time in office, Love was considered a rising star in the Republican Party. She kept her distance from Donald Trump, who was unpopular among many Utah voters, and notably refused to support him in the 2016 election. Instead, she backed Texas Senator Ted Cruz, though he later dropped out of the race.
Love’s attempt to secure a third term in 2018 was unsuccessful, as she lost by fewer than 700 votes to Democrat Ben McAdams, despite Republicans significantly outnumbering Democrats in her district. Following her defeat, Trump publicly criticized her, stating: “Mia Love gave me no love, and she lost. Too bad. Sorry about that, Mia.”
After leaving Congress, Love worked as a political commentator for CNN and served as a fellow at the University of Sydney.
Following Trump’s election, Love expressed a pragmatic view of his presidency. While acknowledging his controversial remarks, she noted that his policies had “a high probability of benefiting all Americans.”
Her passing marks the loss of a trailblazing figure in American politics, remembered for her contributions to public service and her historic role in Congress.
