Mia Love, who made history as the first Black Republican woman elected to Congress, passed away on Sunday at the age of 49.
Love, a former US House representative from Utah, had been battling brain cancer. Her family shared the news of her death on her social media account. She had been undergoing treatment at Duke University’s brain tumor center, including immunotherapy, but her daughter mentioned earlier this month that the treatments were no longer working.
She died peacefully at her home in Saratoga Springs, Utah. In a statement, her family expressed their gratitude for the impact Mia had on their lives, saying, “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.”
Utah Governor Spencer Cox remembered Love as a “true friend” and praised her for inspiring everyone who knew her with her service.
Mia Love’s political journey began in 2003 when she was elected to the Saratoga Springs City Council. She later became the city’s mayor. In 2012, Love ran for Congress but lost to Democratic incumbent Jim Matheson. She ran again in 2014 and won, defeating Doug Owens by about 7,500 votes.
While Love did not focus on her race during her campaigns, she acknowledged the importance of her election after her victory. She said her success proved that a Black, Republican, Mormon woman could win in Utah, despite the doubts from some.
At one point, Love was seen as a rising star in the Republican Party, though she kept her distance from Donald Trump, especially during his first presidential run in 2016, when he was not popular in Utah.
In an op-ed earlier this month, Love reflected on the America she grew up loving. She expressed her hope for the country to be less divided and thanked everyone who had supported her during her illness. She shared that her immigrant parents came to the US with just $10 and a belief in the American dream. She loved her country deeply, even with its flaws, and believed in its core values of respect, resilience, and determination.
Her time in politics exposed her to both the challenges and the hopeful spirit of the American people. She wished for neighbors to focus on their common ground instead of their differences.
In 2016, Love made headlines when she announced she would not support Donald Trump, following the release of a tape where Trump made controversial comments. She endorsed Senator Ted Cruz in the Republican primary instead, though Cruz dropped out soon after.
After losing her re-election bid in 2018 to Ben McAdams, Love briefly became a political commentator for CNN and also worked as a fellow at the University of Sydney.
Following her loss, Trump criticized Love, saying, “Mia Love gave me no love, and she lost. Too bad. Sorry about that, Mia.”
