Mia Love, the groundbreaking first black Republican congresswoman from the United States, has tragically passed away at the age of 49 in Utah, as her family sorrowfully announced. On Sunday, surrounded by the warmth of her loved ones at her Saratoga Springs home, "she breathed her last in peace," according to a poignant statement.
Love, a proud daughter of Haitian immigrants, had honorably represented the state of Utah in the House of Representatives. Earlier this month, her daughter Abigale revealed that Mia's battle against brain cancer had reached a point where treatments could no longer yield a response.
"Amidst a sea of joyous reminisces celebrating her life, Mia silently shed the earthly bonds and, as always, ascended heavenward with her visionary words and boundless spirit," read the heartfelt family statement, posted on X. Utah Governor Spencer Cox paid tribute to Love, stating, "A true pioneer and visionary leader, Mia inspired countless Utahns with her courage, elegance, and steadfast faith in the American dream. Her legacy casts a long, positive shadow over our state, and we will deeply mourn her absence."
Mia Love's political journey began in earnest in 2003 when she secured a seat on the Saratoga Springs city council and, at the age of 34, became its mayor. In 2014, she made historical strides by being elected to the US House of Representatives as the first black Republican woman to hold such a position, serving two esteemed terms.
During the 2016 presidential race, Love openly criticized Donald Trump and endorsed his Republican rival, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who withdrew from the contest a few months later. She also urged Trump to publicly apologize for his derogatory remarks about Haiti in 2018. Her bid for a third term in Congress narrowly missed success, losing to Democratic challenger Ben McAdams. Trump commented on her defeat by saying, "Mia Love gave me no love, and she lost."
Prior to her political endeavors, the mother of three worked as a flight attendant and, as a teenager, harbored dreams of an acting career. She later graduated from the University of Hartford in Connecticut with a degree in musical theatre. In 2022, Love was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive and rapidly progressing form of brain cancer, with a prognosis of just 10-15 months to live—a prediction she surpassed.
Less than two weeks before her passing, Love penned an opinion piece for Deseret News, a testament not to bid farewell but to express gratitude and convey her living wish for her fellow Americans and the country she knew so well.
