Who was Mia Love? Former Utah congresswoman dies from cancer at 49

Former Utah congresswoman Mia Love has died after a battle with glioblastoma brain cancer. Love was the first Black woman elected to Congress as a Republican.

Updated on: Mar 24, 2025, 08:57:34 IST

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Former Utah congresswoman Mia Love has died after a battle with glioblastoma brain cancer. She was 49 years old.

Mia Love passed away at 49. (X/ Mia Love)

Her family announced that she passed away "peacefully in her home surrounded by family."

“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. 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. 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,” the family said in a statement.

Who was Mia Love?

Mia Love made history as the first Black woman elected to Congress as a Republican, representing Utah's 4th District from 2015 to 2019.

Her political journey began in 2003 when she won a seat on the Saratoga Springs, Utah, city council, later becoming the city's mayor.

In 2012, Love narrowly lost her bid for the House of Representatives against Democratic incumbent, former Rep. Jim Matheson, in a district encompassing several Salt Lake City suburbs.

During her 2016 reelection campaign, Love distanced herself from Donald Trump following the release of a 2005 recording in which Trump made lewd comments about women. She chose to skip the Republican National Convention and also publicly declared she would not vote for Trump. She instead endorsed Texas Senator Ted Cruz in the GOP primary, though he dropped out months later.

After her defeat in 2018, Love went on to serve as a political commentator for CNN and a fellow at the University of Sydney.

Love is survived by her husband Jason, her daughters Alessa (Lincoln) and Abigale, her son Peyton and her parents.

(With inputs from AP)

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