Former Rep. Mia Love First Black Republican Congresswoman Passes Away at 49
Former Rep. Mia Love of Utah, the first Black Republican woman elected to Congress, passed away on Sunday at the age of 49.
“She was in her home surrounded by family,” her family announced in a statement. “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 was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, in 2022. Recently, she and her family had shared that the cancer was no longer responding to treatment. Her passing came less than two weeks after she published a farewell message, which she framed as a “living wish” rather than a goodbye.
“Some have forgotten the math of America — whenever you divide, you diminish. What I know is that the goodness and compassion of the American people is a multiplier that simply cannot be measured,” Love wrote. “The goodness and greatness of our country is multiplied when neighbors help neighbors, when we reach out to those in need and build better citizens and more heroic communities.”
Among those who paid tribute was former Sen. Mitt Romney, who reflected on Love’s impact. “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,” he posted. “We will dearly miss you, Mia.”
Love, a mother of three, first gained national attention at the 2012 Republican National Convention, where she spoke as Mitt Romney secured the party’s nomination for president. That same year, she ran for Congress, narrowly losing to Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson. When Matheson retired in 2014, Love won the competitive open seat, serving until 2018 when she was defeated by Democrat Ben McAdams.
Her political career began at the local level. She served on the Saratoga Springs City Council at age 28 before becoming mayor at 34. Before entering politics, Love worked as a flight attendant and call center manager.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, she pursued acting on Broadway and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theater from the University of Hartford in 1997. Later, she converted to the Mormon faith and relocated to Utah, where she built her political career.
In a recent Senate floor speech, Sen. John Curtis honored Love’s legacy. “Being a Black woman in the Republican Party comes with its own set of hurdles, but Mia has never let barriers define her. Instead, she breaks them,” he said.
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