SALT LAKE CITY — Former U.S. Representative Mia Love from Utah, who made history as the first Black Republican woman elected to Congress, passed away on Sunday at the age of 49.
Her family confirmed her death via a public message.
Mia Love had been undergoing treatment for brain cancer, participating in a clinical trial for immunotherapy at a prominent brain tumor center. Her family had shared earlier this month that she was no longer responding to treatment.
Love died peacefully at her home in Saratoga Springs, Utah, as stated by her family.
“With grateful hearts overflowing for the profound influence of Mia on our lives, we share that she passed away peacefully,” her family expressed. “We appreciate the outpouring of good wishes, prayers, and condolences.”
Utah Governor Spencer Cox honored Love as a “true friend,” emphasizing the inspiration her legacy of service provided to those who knew her. “We pray for her family and mourn alongside them,” he stated.
Mia Love’s political journey began in 2003 when she won a seat on the city council in Saratoga Springs, a community located about 30 miles south of Salt Lake City. She eventually became the city’s mayor.
In 2012, she narrowly lost her first congressional bid against the Democratic incumbent in a district encompassing several suburbs of Salt Lake City. Love returned to the race in 2014, successfully defeating her opponent by approximately 7,500 votes.
While Love did not focus heavily on her racial identity during her campaigns, she later acknowledged the importance of her election, highlighting how her victory challenged the expectations surrounding a Black, Republican, Mormon woman winning in predominantly white Utah.
Loved positioned herself as a rising star in the GOP but maintained a cautious distance from Donald Trump during his presidential campaign in 2016, as he was largely unpopular in Utah.
In the same year, faced with reelection and amid controversy surrounding Trump, Love opted not to attend the Republican National Convention, publicly stating her decision not to vote for him and instead endorsing a different candidate.
Attempting to secure a third term in 2018, Love tried to distance herself from Trump on various issues while supporting her party’s stance on tax cuts. Despite a significant Republican advantage in her district, she lost to her Democratic opponent by fewer than 700 votes.
Following her defeat, Trump publicly criticized Love, remarking on her relationship with him during a news conference shortly after the election.
After leaving office, Love pursued careers as a political commentator and an academic fellow. Following Trump’s election, she expressed acceptance of the outcome, recognizing the complexities of his rhetoric while acknowledging the potential benefits of his policies for Americans.
