First Black Republican Woman Elected to US House Dies at 49 After Brain Cancer Battle

Mia Love, the daughter of Haitian immigrants who rose to become a City Council member, mayor, and the first Black Republican woman elected to Congress, has passed away at the age of 49 after a three-year battle with brain cancer.

Her family announced her passing on her X account.

Love had recently undergone treatment for brain cancer, including immunotherapy as part of a clinical trial at Duke University’s brain tumor center.

Earlier this month, her daughter shared that the former lawmaker was no longer responding to treatment.

According to a statement from her family, Love passed away at her home in Saratoga Springs, Utah.

“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 said. “We are thankful for the many good wishes, prayers, and condolences.”

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox described Mia Love as a “true friend” and praised her legacy of service, which he said inspired everyone who knew her.

Love began her political career in 2003 when she won a seat on the Saratoga Springs City Council in a rapidly growing community about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Salt Lake City. She later became the city’s mayor.

In 2012, she narrowly lost a congressional race to Democratic incumbent Jim Matheson in a district spanning several Salt Lake City suburbs. However, she ran again in 2014 and won, defeating first-time candidate Doug Owens by approximately 7,500 votes.

In an op-ed published earlier this month in the Deseret News, Love reflected on the America she cherished and expressed her hope for a less divided nation. She also expressed gratitude to her medical team and those who had prayed for her.

Love shared that her parents arrived in the U.S. with just $10 and a strong belief that hard work would lead to success. Raised to believe deeply in the American dream, she said she was taught to “love this country, warts and all.”

She described America as a nation rooted in respect, resilience, generosity, and unwavering determination.