First black Republican congresswoman Mia Love dies after battle with brain cancer
Mia Love, first US black Republican congresswoman (Photo: Getty Images)
Mia Love, the first Black Republican woman elected to the US Congress, has died at the age of 49 after a long battle with brain cancer, reports BBC.
Love passed away peacefully at her home in Saratoga Springs, Utah, surrounded by her 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," the family wrote in a heartfelt statement.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox paid tribute, calling her "a true trailblazer and visionary leader" who inspired "countless Utahns through her courage, grace, and unwavering belief in the American dream."
Born to Haitian immigrants, Mia Love began her political career in 2003 as a city council member in Saratoga Springs. At 34, she became the city’s mayor, and in 2014, she made history by winning a seat in the US House of Representatives.
Love served two terms before narrowly losing her re-election bid in 2018 to Democrat Ben McAdams.
Her final message and lasting impact
Mia Love (Photo: Getty Images)
Diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, in 2022, Love was initially given 10 to 15 months to live - a prognosis she ultimately outlived. Just two weeks before her passing, she published an emotional op-ed in Deseret News: "This is not to say goodbye but to say thank you and express my living wish for you and the America I know."
Love’s death comes amid a string of high-profile losses to cancer: actor Jan Schwieterman, best known for his role in the cult comedy Good Burger, died at age 52 after battling an aggressive form of cancer. Formula One legend Eddie Jordan also passed away recently at 76 after a year-long fight with prostate cancer.
Mia Love leaves behind a legacy of resilience, leadership, and unwavering hope for a better America.
