Former Utah Rep. Mia Love, First Black Republican Congresswoman, Dies After Cancer Battle

Former U.S. Representative Mia Love, the first Black Republican woman elected to Congress, passed away at 49 following a battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, her family announced Sunday, March 23rd.

Love, who represented Utah’s 4th Congressional District from 2015 to 2019, had received immunotherapy at Duke University’s Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center as part of a clinical trial. Earlier this month, her daughter revealed 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,” her family stated. “She was in her home surrounded by family.”

Love entered politics in 2003, winning a seat on the Saratoga Springs City Council before becoming mayor. In 2012, she ran for Congress against Democrat Jim Matheson but narrowly lost. Two years later, she defeated Democrat Doug Owens, securing her place in history as the first Black Republican woman in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Love positioned herself as a fiscal conservative during her time in office, focusing on government accountability and tax policy. In 2016, she initially distanced herself from then-candidate Donald Trump, declining to endorse him and instead supporting Texas Senator Ted Cruz. In 2018, while seeking re-election, she attempted to balance her party’s platform with a more independent stance on trade and immigration. Despite Utah’s strong Republican base, she lost her seat to Democrat Ben McAdams by fewer than 700 votes.

After leaving Congress, Love transitioned to a media career, serving as a political commentator for CNN and appearing as a guest on ABC’s The View. In May 2023, she spoke on CNN’s The Lead with Jake Tapper about her cancer diagnosis, sharing how her Mormon faith and medical treatments gave her strength.

Love, the daughter of Haitian immigrants, frequently spoke about her belief in the American Dream. In a recent Deseret News op-ed, she urged leaders to bridge political divides and lead with honesty and compassion.

Her family expressed gratitude for the prayers and condolences they received, honoring her memory as a leader and advocate.