Mia Love, the first Black woman to be elected to Congress as a Republican, died at 49 after a battle with an aggressive type of brain cancer. Her family announced the news Sunday evening on X. Love represented Utah’s 4th Congressional District from 2015 through 2019.

Love’s Battle with Glioblastoma

Love publicly announced her glioblastoma diagnosis in May 2022, an aggressive type of brain cancer that has a generally poor survival prognosis. Most patients, MD Anderson Cancer Center says, live only 18 to 24 months, with a five-year survival of only 10%.

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Committed to battling the disease, Love joined a clinical trial at The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University. She had immunotherapy every three weeks starting in August 2023. Bending the original prognosis of 10 to 15 months, she proved everybody wrong, finding strength in science and religion.

“I was seeking a cure in science and in my faith,” she once explained. “Funny thing is, my patriarchal blessing said you will have a long and prosperous life, a rich and rewarding life, as long as you decide to stay in public service.”

Symptoms of Glioblastoma include:

Glioblastoma results from the mutation of brain or spinal cord cells’ DNA, which causes them to increase uncontrollably and grow a tumor. Tumors press on the adjacent nerves, and several neurological issues result from it. Here are some symptoms:

  • Severe headaches in the morning
  • Vomiting and nausea
  • Forgetfulness and deterioration of mental state
  • Vision anomalies like blurred vision or double vision
  • Change of personality or mood swings
  • Inability to talk, balance, or coordinate
  • Seizures, particularly in those without a history of seizures

Trailblazing Political Career

Love’s political career started in 2003 when she won a seat on the Saratoga Springs city council in Utah, eventually serving as the city’s mayor. She ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012 but lost to Democratic incumbent Jim Matheson by a slim margin in a district representing Salt Lake City suburbs. But Love made history in 2014 when she beat first-time candidate Doug Owens to become the first Black Republican woman elected to Congress.

During her time there, she attempted to be an independent in her political affiliation. She was against Donald Trump’s 2016 candidacy after the release of a scandalous recording on which he uttered untoward comments on women. Love did not attend the Republican National Convention and publicly indicated that she would not vote for him, instead supporting Texas Senator Ted Cruz before he dropped out.

In her 2018 re-election campaign, she tried to align her party allegiance with opposition to Trump’s immigration and trade policies. Even with Republicans outnumbering Democrats in her district by considerable margins, she lost to Democratic challenger Ben McAdams, the ex-Salt Lake City mayor, by less than 700 votes. After her defeat, Trump reproached her during a press briefing, saying, “Mia Love gave me no love, and she lost. Too bad. Sorry about that, Mia.”

Following her resignation from Congress, Love was appointed a political analyst at CNN as well as an associate at the University of Sydney. She maintained her involvement in public life without losing sight of her personal life. Love left behind her husband, Jason, her daughters Alessa (Lincoln) and Abigale, her son Peyton, as well as her parents.

In spite of the political and health obstacles she encountered, Mia Love left a lasting legacy in American politics. Her record-breaking election, unshakeable values, and courageous fight against cancer solidified her legacy as a steadfast leader who continued in the face of adversity.