“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,” Love’s family said on social media.
Mia Love, the first Black Republican woman elected to Congress, died Sunday at her home in Utah at the age of 49.
Love’s family announced her death Sunday night on social media, saying she was “in her home surrounded by family” when she died.
“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,” Love’s family said in a statement, shared on both X and Facebook.
While the statement did not cite a cause of death, Love’s daughter had previously said on social media that she had been diagnosed with a glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
A trailblazer for conservative women of color
Love made history in 2014 when she was elected as the first Black Republican woman to serve in Congress. For four years, she represented Utah’s 4th Congressional District.
The Republican party viewed Love as a trailblazer who could inspire more conservative women of color to seek elected office.
However, Love did not endorse Donald Trump for president in 2016 and became a frequent critic of his policies during his first term, according to multiple outlets, including the New York Times and Washington Post. She also did not seek his endorsement during her re-election campaign in 2018, which she lost in a narrow race to Democratic challenger Ben McAdams, the outlets reported.
“People like the idea of women running, they do, especially a woman of color, but the efforts don’t go far enough,’’ Love told USA TODAY in 2022. “I certainly hope that I won’t be the last one. I really do.”
A battle with brain cancer
Love’s daughter said earlier this month on X that Love had been suffering from a brain tumor that was progressing and had had stopped responding to treatment.
“We have a shifted our focus from treatment to enjoying our remaining time with her,” the post read.
“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,” her family said in their Sunday statement. “We are thankful for the many good wishes, prayers and condolences.”
Funeral arrangements and plans for a “public celebration of her life” will be announced in the days ahead, her family added.
Contributing: Deborah Barfield Berry, USA TODAY
Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected]