Former Utah Congresswoman Mia Love Dies at 49
SALT LAKE CITY — Mia Love, a former U.S. Representative for Utah and the daughter of Haitian immigrants who made history as the first Black Republican woman elected to Congress, has died at the age of 49.
News of her passing was shared by her family on Love’s X account.
Battle with Brain Cancer
Love had recently been undergoing treatment for brain cancer. She was participating in a clinical trial at Duke University’s brain tumor center, receiving immunotherapy. Earlier this month, her daughter disclosed that the former lawmaker was no longer responsive to treatment.
According to a family statement, Love passed away peacefully at her home in Saratoga Springs, Utah.
“With deep gratitude for Mia’s profound impact on our lives, we share that she passed away peacefully,” her family stated. “We are grateful for the outpouring of well wishes, prayers, and condolences.”
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Tributes from Utah Leaders
Utah Governor Spencer Cox remembered Love as a “true friend.”
“Her legacy of service inspired everyone who knew her,” Cox said in a statement. “We offer our prayers for her family and join them in mourning.”
Political Career of Mia Love
Love’s entry into politics began in 2003 with her election to the Saratoga Springs City Council. This rapidly growing community is located approximately 30 miles south of Salt Lake City. She subsequently served as the city’s mayor.
In 2012, Love launched an unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives against the incumbent Democratic Congressman Jim Matheson. The district encompasses several suburbs of Salt Lake City.
She ran again in 2014 and won, defeating first-time candidate Doug Owens by a margin of about 7,500 votes.
Breaking Barriers in Congress
While Love did not emphasize her race during her campaigns, she acknowledged the historical significance of her 2014 victory. She stated that her win defied skeptics who believed a Black, Republican, Mormon woman could not win a congressional seat in Utah, a state with a predominantly white population.
Love was briefly regarded as a rising star within the Republican Party (GOP). She also maintained a distance from Donald Trump, who was unpopular among many Utah voters during his 2016 presidential campaign.
Navigating the Trump Era
In 2016, while seeking reelection and following the release of a 2005 recording containing lewd comments made by Trump, Love opted to skip the Republican National Convention. She issued a statement explicitly stating she would not vote for Trump. Instead, she endorsed Texas Senator Ted Cruz in the GOP race, though he later withdrew from the nomination.
During her 2018 reelection bid, Love attempted to differentiate herself from Trump on issues of trade and immigration, while still supporting her party’s stance on tax reductions. Despite a significant Republican voter advantage in her district, she lost by fewer than 700 votes to former Salt Lake City Mayor Ben McAdams, a Democrat.
In a news conference the day after her defeat, Trump publicly criticized Love, along with other Republicans who did not fully support him.
“Mia Love gave me no love, and she lost,” Trump commented. “Too bad. Sorry about that, Mia.”
Post-Congressional Career and Reflections
Following her electoral loss, Love became a political commentator for CNN and a fellow at the University of Sydney.
After Trump’s election in November, Love expressed acceptance of the outcome.
“Yes, Trump says many inconsiderate things that are unfortunate and indefensible. However, his policies have a strong probability of benefiting all Americans,” Love wrote in a social media post.