Former U.S. Rep. Mia Love, the first Black Republican woman elected to Congress, has died at 49, her family announced Sunday night.
“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 today,” Love’s family wrote in a statement on X.
Love, who represented Utah’s 4th Congressional District from 2015 to 2019, died at her home in Saratoga Springs, according to the New York Post.
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Love had been battling brain cancer and recently underwent immunotherapy at Duke University before her condition stopped responding to treatment.
“In the midst of a celebration of her life and an avalanche of happy memories, Mia quietly slipped the bands of mortality and, as her words and vision always did, soared heavenward,” her family wrote.
“We are thankful for the many good wishes, prayers and condolences. We are taking some time as a family and will provide information about funeral services and a public celebration of her life in the days to come.”
Love is survived by her husband, Jason, and their three children, Alessa, Abigale, and Peyton.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox called Love a “true friend” who was a “trailblazer and visionary leader.”
“Mia inspired countless Utahns through her courage, grace, and unwavering belief in the American dream,” Cox posted on X. “Her legacy leaves a lasting, positive impact on our state. We will miss her deeply.”
“Heavy heart with the passing of my friend and colleague, Mia Love. Her energy, enthusiasm and wit made her a stand-out member of Congress,” former Massachusetts Gov. And former Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) posted on X.
“Her faith and fortitude made her a model for me and for countless others. We will dearly miss you, Mia,”
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), who served in Congress with Mia Love, expressed his sorrow over her passing.
“This is truly heartbreaking. Mia Love was an outstanding public servant and a dear friend,” Lee wrote on X. “Her passing leaves a deep, painful void.”
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Love was the third child of Haitian immigrants. Her family moved to Connecticut when she was five, and she later attended the University of Hartford on a half-tuition scholarship.
After graduating, Love worked as a flight attendant before converting to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and moving to Utah in 1998. There, she met her future husband, Jason, and they married within months.
Love entered politics in 2003, winning a seat on the Saratoga Springs City Council before becoming the city’s mayor in 2010.
Love first ran for Congress in 2012 but lost to Democratic incumbent Jim Matheson in Utah’s 4th Congressional District. After Matheson announced his retirement in 2013, Love ran again in 2014 and narrowly defeated Democrat Doug Owens by about 7,500 votes.
Love downplayed her race on the campaign trail but acknowledged the historic significance of her victory, defying skeptics who doubted a Black Republican Mormon could win in Utah. She secured re-election in 2016, once again defeating Owens.
During the 2016 election, Love skipped the Republican National Convention and endorsed Sen. Ted Cruz.
She later denounced Donald Trump, saying she would not vote for him after the release of his 2005 Access Hollywood interview recording in which he made lewd statements about women.
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In 2018, Love lost her re-election bid to Democrat Ben McAdams by fewer than 700 votes.
Trump singled her out in a news conference the next day.
“Mia Love gave me no love, and she lost,” Trump said. “Too bad. Sorry about that, Mia.”
After her 2018 election loss, Love became a political commentator for CNN and a fellow at the University of Sydney.
In 2022, she was diagnosed with glioblastoma, the most common type of malignant brain tumor diagnosed in more than 12,000 people each year in the United States. Sen. John McCain and Sen. Edward Kennedy died because of this cancer.
Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immune therapy have been used to fight this aggressive form of cancer but most die within two years.
