Mia Love, Trailblazing Utah Congresswoman, Dies at 49 After Cancer Battle

Mia Love, the first Black Republican woman elected to Congress, has died at the age of 49 after a three-year battle with brain cancer.

A former City Council member, mayor, and two-term U.S. House representative, Love passed  Trailblazing  away Sunday at her home, surrounded by family, according to a statement on her official X (formerly Twitter) account.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox expressed his sorrow on social media:

“From the time we were mayors together, I could always count on Mia as a true friend. Her legacy of service inspired all who knew her. We pray for her family and mourn with them.”

A Journey from Immigrant Roots to Political Leadership

Born Ludmya “Mia” Bourdeau Love on December 6, 1975, she was the daughter of Haitian immigrants, Maxime and Marie Bourdeau. Her parents moved to the U.S. in the 1970s, settling first in New Jersey and later in Brooklyn, New York, where Maxime worked in maintenance and Marie as a housekeeper and nursing assistant.

Mia Love’s passion for performance and leadership was evident early on. She participated in color Trailblazing guard and drama during high school and earned a half-tuition scholarship to the University of Hartford’s Hartt School for performing arts.

In 1997, after graduating and briefly working as a flight attendant, she converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and moved to West Jordan, Utah. There, she reconnected with Jason Love, whom she had met years earlier. They married and had three children: Alessa, Abigale, and Peyton.

Stepping into Politics

Love’s political career began in Saratoga Springs, Utah, when she and her neighbors protested a developer’s inaction on a local insect infestation. Inspired to be part of the solution, she ran for City Council in 2004 and won, Trailblazing  becoming the first Black woman elected to office in Utah County.

By 2009, she had become mayor of Saratoga Springs, leading the city through the housing market collapse and gaining recognition for her fiscal conservatism and leadership skills.

Making History in Congress

In 2012, Love ran for U.S. Congress against Democratic incumbent Jim Matheson, becoming a rising star in the Republican Party. Though she narrowly lost, she gained national attention, delivering a high-profile speech at the Republican National Convention, where she spoke about the Trailblazing  American Dream and her parents’ journey from poverty to opportunity.

Two years later, in 2014, she made history, winning Trailblazing  Utah’s 4th Congressional District seat, becoming the first Black Republican woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Her tenure focused on fiscal responsibility, limited government, and economic empowerment, though she often clashed with party leadership. She lost her 2018 re-election bid but continued to advocate for conservative principles and minority representation in politics.

Legacy and Tributes

Love’s impact extended beyond her political victories, inspiring women, minorities, and conservative leaders across the country.

In 2023, she published her book, Qualified: Finding Your Voice, Leading With Character, and Empowering Others, reflecting on her career and lessons in leadership.

Her passing marks the loss of a pioneering leader whose journey from immigrant roots to political history resonated with many.