Mia Love, the first Black woman elected to Congress as a Republican, has sadly passed away aged 49.
Love’s family announced her passing in a heartfelt message posted on her X account Sunday night.
“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 today,” the family wrote.
“She was in her home surrounded by family. In the midst of a celebration of her life and an avalanche of happy memories, Mia quietly slipped the bands of mortality and, as her words and vision always did, soared heavenward. We are thankful for the many good wishes, prayers and condolences.”
Love passed away following a battle with cancer.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Love was the daughter of Haitian immigrants and the third of their children, per CNN.
Her family moved to Connecticut when she was five, where she eventually earned a half-tuition scholarship to the University of Hartford.
After graduating, she worked as a flight attendant, converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and moved to Utah in 1998 — the state she would one day represent in Congress.
Love began her political career in 2003 with a seat on the Saratoga Springs city council before becoming the city’s mayor in 2010.
She first ran for Congress in 2012 but lost to then-incumbent Democrat Jim Matheson. In 2014, she tried again and narrowly defeated Democrat Doug Owens by about 7,500 votes to represent Utah’s 4th Congressional District.
Though she didn’t focus on race in her campaign, Love later acknowledged the weight of her historic win, proving critics wrong who said a Black, Republican, Mormon woman couldn’t win in Utah.
Love served from 2015 to 2019, winning re-election in 2016, but losing her 2018 bid to Democrat Ben McAdams by fewer than 700 votes.
The day after the loss, Donald Trump took a jab, saying: “Mia Love gave me no love, and she lost. Too bad. Sorry about that, Mia.”
After Congress, Love continued making waves as a political commentator on CNN and a guest host on ABC’s The View. She also served as a fellow at the University of Sydney.
In May 2022, she revealed her diagnosis of glioblastoma (GBM), an aggressive brain cancer.
Speaking on CNN’s The Lead with Jake Tapper, she discussed the prognosis — just 10% survive past five years — and her journey undergoing immunotherapy every three weeks since August 2023 as part of a clinical trial at Duke University’s Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center.
Despite it all, she remained hopeful.
“I was looking for a cure in my faith and in science,” she told Tapper. “Funny thing is, my patriarchal blessing said you will have a long and prosperous life, a rich and rewarding life, so long as you decide to remain in public service.”
Per the New York Post, U.S. Senator Mike Lee said: “This is truly heartbreaking. Mia Love was an outstanding public servant and a dear friend. Her passing leaves a deep, painful void.”
Former Massachusetts Governor and Utah Senator Mitt Romney added: “Heavy heart with the passing of my friend and colleague, Mia Love. Her energy, enthusiasm and wit made her a stand-out member of Congress. Her faith and fortitude made her a model for me and for countless others. We will dearly miss you, Mia.”
Love passed away in her Saratoga Springs home, about 30 miles outside Salt Lake City, surrounded by her husband Jason and their three children, Alessa, Abigale, and Peyton.
Her family wrote: “We are taking some time as a family and will provide information about funeral services and a public celebration of her life in the days to come.”
Our thoughts go out to Love's family and loved ones at this time.