SARATOGA SPRINGS, USA — Mia Love, the daughter of Haitian immigrants who made history as the first Black Republican woman elected to the U.S. Congress, has died at the age of 49 following a battle with brain cancer.
Her family confirmed her passing in a statement shared on her official X account on Sunday, March 23, 2025.
“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,” the statement read.
“We are thankful for the many good wishes, prayers and condolences.”
Utah Governor Spencer Cox paid tribute to Love, calling her a “true friend” whose life of service “inspired all who knew her.”
Love died at her home in Saratoga Springs, Utah, after undergoing months of immunotherapy as part of a clinical trial at Duke University’s brain tumour center.
Her daughter disclosed earlier this month that the treatments were no longer effective.
A Symbol of Determination and Firsts
Born Ludmya Bourdeau in Brooklyn to Haitian immigrants, Love often invoked her parents’ journey to America—arriving with just $10 and a belief in the power of hard work—as the foundation of her political philosophy.
Her public service career began on the Saratoga Springs City Council in 2003. She later became the city’s mayor before entering national politics.
In 2012, she narrowly lost her first congressional bid in a Democratic-leaning district, but in 2014, she returned and defeated Democrat Doug Owens to win Utah’s 4th Congressional District seat.
Her election marked a historic moment as she became the first Black Republican woman in Congress and the first Haitian-American to serve in the House.
Though she rarely focused on identity politics, Love acknowledged the significance of her win.
“A lot of people told me that a Black, Republican, Mormon woman could not win in Utah,” she said at the time.
“I guess they were wrong.”
Independent Voice in the GOP
During her tenure, Love was seen as a rising star within the Republican Party.
However, she frequently took independent positions, most notably distancing herself from Donald Trump during the 2016 campaign after a 2005 recording surfaced of Trump making lewd remarks about women.
She declined to attend the Republican National Convention and endorsed Senator Ted Cruz for president, publicly stating she would not vote for Trump.
That decision drew both praise and criticism.
After she narrowly lost her 2018 re-election bid to Democrat Ben McAdams—despite a strong Republican majority in her district—Trump took a swipe at her.
“Mia Love gave me no love, and she lost,” he said.
Life After Congress
Following her time in office, Love pivoted to media and academia.
She became a political commentator for CNN and a fellow at the University of Sydney.
Despite her earlier disapproval of Trump’s rhetoric, she later wrote that while she disapproved of his tone, many of his policies had the potential to benefit Americans broadly.
In her final weeks, Love penned a moving op-ed in the Deseret News, reflecting on her legacy and expressing hope for national unity.
“Some have forgotten the math of America—whenever you divide, you diminish,” she wrote.
“In the end, I hope that my life will have mattered and made a difference for the nation I love and the family and friends I adore.”
Mia Love is survived by her husband, Jason, and their three children.
Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days.
