Mia Love, trailblazer and political leader, passes away following a battle with brain cancer.
Mia Love, the pioneering first black Republican congresswoman in the United States, has passed away at the age of 49 in her home in Saratoga Springs, Utah. The news was confirmed by her family, who revealed that she died peacefully on Sunday, surrounded by loved ones.
A daughter of Haitian immigrants, Love made history in 2014 when she became the first black Republican woman to serve in the US House of Representatives. She represented Utah’s 4th congressional district for two terms before her bid for a third term ended in a narrow defeat to her Democratic challenger, Ben McAdams.
Her daughter, Abigale, shared earlier this month that Love had stopped responding to treatments for glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer she had been diagnosed with in 2022. Despite the prognosis, Love defied expectations and lived beyond the predicted 10 to 15 months. Her family issued a statement remembering her final moments as peaceful and filled with fond memories.
“Mia quietly slipped the bands of mortality and, as her words and vision always did, soared heavenward,” the statement said, posted on social media platform X.
Governor of Utah, Spencer Cox, paid tribute to Love, calling her “a true trailblazer and visionary leader,” adding that she had inspired countless residents of Utah with her courage and unwavering belief in the American dream. “Her legacy leaves a lasting, positive impact on our state. We will miss her deeply.”
Before entering the political sphere, Love worked as a flight attendant and pursued a degree in musical theatre at the University of Hartford. Her political career began in 2003 when she was elected to Saratoga Springs’ city council. She later served as the town’s mayor at the age of 34.
While she was a strong Republican voice, Love was not without controversy. She notably distanced herself from Donald Trump during his presidential campaign in 2016, endorsing Senator Ted Cruz instead. She also called for Trump to apologise for his derogatory comments about Haiti in 2018, the country of her family’s origin.
Love’s tenure in Congress came to an end after a razor-thin loss to McAdams in 2018. The defeat was met with Trump’s remark that Love “gave me no love, and she lost.”
In a poignant farewell, Love wrote an opinion piece for Deseret News just weeks before her death, where she expressed gratitude and hope for the future of the United States. She said her message was “not to say goodbye, but to say thank you and express my living wish for you and the America I know.”
Mia Love leaves behind a lasting legacy as a trailblazer in American politics, remembered for her groundbreaking achievements and for embodying the spirit of resilience.
