Mia Love, First Black Republican Woman in Congress, Dies at 49
Mia Love, the first Black Republican woman elected to the U.S. Congress, died on Sunday at her home in Saratoga Springs, Utah, at the age of 49. Her family confirmed her passing in a statement on social media, revealing that she had been battling glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, since 2022.
Love made history in 2014 when she won a U.S. House of Representatives seat, representing Utah’s 4th Congressional District. Her election was a milestone for the Republican Party and Black women in politics. She served two terms in Congress before losing her bid for re-election in 2018.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, to Haitian immigrant parents, Ludmya “Mia” Love grew up in Norwalk, Connecticut, and later attended the University of Hartford, where she studied musical theater. Before entering politics, she worked as a flight attendant and dreamed of an acting career.
Love moved to Utah after college, where she joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and became involved in local politics. Her political career began in 2003 when she was elected to the Saratoga Springs City Council. She later became the city’s mayor in 2010 before launching her campaign for Congress.
During her time in Washington, Love was known for her independent streak and willingness to challenge members of her party. She was critical of then-President Donald Trump, particularly on immigration issues, and did not seek his endorsement during her 2018 campaign. After losing her re-election bid to Democrat Ben McAdams by a narrow margin, Trump remarked, “Mia Love gave me no love, and she lost.”
Despite stepping away from elected office, Love remained active in political commentary and public service. In her final years, she reflected on her journey in an opinion piece published by Deseret News earlier this month. “This is not to say goodbye but to say thank you and express my living wish for you and the America I know,” she wrote.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox paid tribute to Love, calling her a “trailblazer and visionary leader” who inspired many through “her courage, grace, and unwavering belief in the American dream.”
Love is survived by her husband, Jason Love, and their three children.