Mia Love, the first Black Republican in the U.S. Congress, has died at the age of 49

24 March 2025 , 14:28

424     0

Mia Love, the first Black Republican in the U.S. Congress, has died at the age of 49

Former Utah Congresswoman Mia Love, the first Black Republican woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, has passed away at the age of 49.

Her family confirmed the news on her official social media page, X. According to reports from AP, Love had been battling brain cancer and was undergoing immunotherapy as part of a clinical trial at the Duke Brain Tumor Research Center. Earlier this month, her daughter announced that the treatment had stopped being effective.

“With gratitude and love, we share that Mia passed peacefully at home,” the family statement said.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox called Love “a true friend” and emphasized that her service inspired everyone who knew her.

Mia Love, born to Haitian immigrant parents, was raised with a belief in the American Dream. She first ran for Congress in 2012 but lost to Democrat Jim Matheson. Two years later, she won, becoming the first Black Republican woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

During her campaign, Love did not emphasize her race, but after her victory, she acknowledged its historic significance, noting that she had shattered stereotypes about the possibility of a Black Republican woman and Mormon winning in predominantly white Utah.

Love distanced herself from Donald Trump, whose popularity was low among Utah voters. In 2018, she sought re-election, maintaining independence from Trump’s policies on trade and immigration. However, she lost to Democratic candidate Ben McAdams by less than 700 votes.

The day after her loss, Trump remarked: "Mia Love didn’t show me any love – and she lost. Too bad. Sorry, Mia."

After her political career, Love worked as a commentator for CNN and taught at Sydney University. In a recent article, she called on Americans to unite and respect one another.

“Some have forgotten the main rule of America: when you divide, you weaken,” she wrote.

Love hoped that her life would leave a mark and help the country become less divided.

James Smith