Mia Love, the first Black Republican woman elected to the U.S. Congress, has died at the age of 49, her family confirmed on Sunday. She passed away peacefully at her home in Saratoga Springs, Utah, surrounded by loved ones, after a battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Born to Haitian immigrants, Love rose from local politics to the national stage, becoming a symbol of diversity in the Republican Party. She made history in 2014 by becoming the first Black Republican woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Utah for two terms.
Her daughter, Abigale, revealed earlier this month that Love had stopped responding to treatment. In a heartfelt family statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), the family wrote:
“Mia quietly slipped the bands of mortality and, as her words and vision always did, soared heavenward.”
A Life of Firsts and Fierce Advocacy
Love’s political journey began in 2003 on the Saratoga Springs City Council. At age 34, she became the city’s mayor, making her one of the youngest to hold that office in Utah. A former flight attendant and graduate in musical theatre, Love brought both charisma and conviction to her public service.
Though she endorsed Ted Cruz over Donald Trump in the 2016 Republican primary and later criticized Trump for his 2018 comments about Haiti, her stance did not go unnoticed. After her narrow loss in a 2018 re-election bid, Trump remarked:
“Mia Love gave me no love, and she lost.”
Despite political ups and downs, Love remained deeply respected. Utah Governor Spencer Cox praised her as “a true trailblazer and visionary leader,” adding:
“Her legacy leaves a lasting, positive impact on our state.”
A Lasting Message
Just two weeks before her passing, Love published an emotional op-ed in the Deseret News, offering a message of gratitude, not farewell.
“It’s not to say goodbye but to say thank you,” she wrote, encouraging Americans to believe in the country she loved so dearly.
