Mia Love, first black Republican woman elected to US Congress, dies from brain cancer

Ludmya Mia Love, the first black person elected to the US Congress from Utah as a Republican, died on Sunday (March 23) aged 49 following a long battle with brain cancer. Love's family posted news of her death on her social media accounts, revealing that she 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 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 post on her official Facebook profile read.

She was not only the first black elected to the US Congress but also first Haitian-American to achieve the feat. The daughter of Haitian immigrants, she was born in New York's Brooklyn. She was represented Utah's 4th congressional district from 2015 to 2019.


Mia Love had been diagnosed with glioblastoma (a form of brain cancer) in February 2022. She was being treated at Duke University’s brain tumor center and had taken part in a clinical trial during which she received immunotherapy.

However, her daughter in early March 2025 admitted that Love was no longer responding to treatment.

Her political journey began in 2003 when she won a seat on the city council in Saratoga Springs near Salt Lake City. She went on to become the city’s mayor in 2010.

Nearly two years later in 2012, Love was defeated by Democratic leader Jim Matheson in Utah's 4th congressional district. She had her revenge in 2014 when she won from the same constituency defeating Democratic opponent Doug Owens.

She retained her seat in 2016 by winning against Owens once again. But she lost the election in 2018 to Democrat Ben McAdams.

In spite of being a Republican, she was one of the leaders who never fully endorsed US President Donald Trump and his policies.

She also had a short innings with the news media when she joined CNN as a political commentator in 2019.

She had written an op-ed in the Deseret News a few days before her death where she had thanked her medical team and well wishers.