First Black GOP Congresswoman Mia Love Dies at 49 After Cancer Battle/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Mia Love, the first Black Republican woman elected to Congress, has died at age 49 after a battle with brain cancer. A daughter of Haitian immigrants and former mayor of Saratoga Springs, Utah, Love served one term in the U.S. House and was known for defying political expectations. Her family confirmed her peaceful passing on Sunday at home in Utah.
Mia Love’s Legacy: Quick Looks
- Died Sunday at age 49 after brain cancer treatment
- First Black Republican woman elected to U.S. Congress (2014)
- Served one term representing Utah’s 4th District
- Daughter of Haitian immigrants, born in Brooklyn, NY
- Former Saratoga Springs council member and mayor
- Lost re-election in 2018 to Democrat Ben McAdams
- Known for rejecting Trump in 2016, supported Ted Cruz
- Remembered for her belief in American resilience and unity
- Spoke out for civility and compassion in final op-ed
- Later worked as CNN contributor and university fellow
First Black GOP Congresswoman Mia Love Dies at 49 After Cancer Battle
Deep Look
SALT LAKE CITY — Former U.S. Representative Mia Love, a groundbreaking Black Republican woman who rose from local leadership in Utah to the halls of Congress, died Sunday at age 49 following a battle with brain cancer.
Her family announced her passing in a heartfelt post on her X account, noting that she died peacefully at her home in Saratoga Springs, Utah. Love had undergone treatment at Duke University’s brain tumor center and had recently entered a clinical trial. Earlier this month, her daughter shared that she was no longer responding to treatment.
“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,” the family wrote. “We are thankful for the many good wishes, prayers and condolences.”
Love’s rise to political prominence was historic. Born to Haitian immigrants and raised in Brooklyn, she brought a compelling personal story and a message rooted in optimism, personal responsibility, and belief in the American Dream.
She entered politics in 2003 with a seat on the Saratoga Springs city council before becoming mayor. In 2014, she broke barriers by winning a seat in the U.S. House, becoming the first Black Republican woman in Congress — a milestone celebrated nationwide.
Though Love rarely centered her race in campaign messaging, she acknowledged its significance after her victory:
“There were a lot of naysayers out there who said that a Black, Republican, Mormon woman could not win in Utah. And guess what? We did it.”
Her tenure in Congress was marked by both ideological consistency and independence. While she supported conservative economic policies like tax reform, she distanced herself from Donald Trump, skipping the 2016 Republican National Convention and declaring she would not vote for him after the release of his controversial “Access Hollywood” tape. She had backed Senator Ted Cruz instead.
Despite Republican dominance in her district, she lost her 2018 re-election bid to Democrat Ben McAdams by fewer than 700 votes. Trump responded sharply: “Mia Love gave me no love, and she lost,” he said the next morning. “Too bad.”
Love later became a CNN political commentator and was a fellow at the University of Sydney. But even after her congressional career, she remained a respected voice on politics and public service.
In one of her final public reflections, a March op-ed in the Deseret News, Love shared a moving meditation on patriotism, public service, and her vision for a more unified America.
“Some have forgotten the math of America — whenever you divide you diminish,” she wrote.
She spoke candidly about her parents’ immigrant story — arriving in the U.S. with $10 and raising her to believe in hard work, faith, and freedom. Love praised the nation’s spirit of resilience and urged Americans to remember their shared values.
“My living wish and fervent prayer for you and for this nation is that the America I have known is the America you fight to preserve,” she wrote.
Tributes poured in from across Utah and beyond. Governor Spencer Cox called Love a “true friend” and “inspiration,” praising her courage and public service.
After her passing, Love is remembered not only for her historic election, but also for her thoughtful, principled voice in American politics — one that championed faith, unity, and hope amid division.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.