Former US Rep. Mia Love of Utah, a daughter of Haitian immigrants who grew to become the primary Black Republican girl elected to Congress, died Sunday.
She was 49.
Love’s household posted information of her demise on Love’s X account.
She had undergone latest therapy for mind most cancers and obtained immunotherapy as a part of a medical trial at Duke College’s mind tumor middle. Her daughter stated earlier this month that the previous lawmaker was not responding to therapy.
Love died at her residence in Saratoga Springs, Utah, in accordance with a press release posted by the household.
“With grateful hearts crammed to overflowing for the profound affect of Mia on our lives, we wish you to know that she handed away peacefully,” her household stated. “We’re grateful for the numerous good needs, prayers and condolences.”
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox referred to Love as a “true good friend” and stated her legacy of service impressed all who knew her.
Love entered politics in 2003 after profitable a seat on town council in Saratoga Springs, a rising group about 30 miles south of Salt Lake Metropolis. She later grew to become town’s mayor.
In 2012, Love narrowly misplaced a bid for the Home towards the Democratic incumbent, former Rep. Jim Matheson, in a district that covers a string of Salt Lake Metropolis suburbs. She ran once more two years later and defeated first-time candidate Doug Owens by about 7,500 votes.
Love didn’t emphasize her race throughout her campaigns, however she acknowledged the importance of her election after her 2014 victory. She stated her win defied naysayers who had instructed {that a} Black, Republican, Mormon girl couldn’t win a congressional seat in overwhelmingly white Utah.
She was briefly thought of a rising star throughout the GOP and she or he saved her distance from Donald Trump, who was unpopular with many Utah voters, whereas he was working for president forward of the 2016 election.
In an op-ed printed earlier this month within the Deseret Information, Love described the model of America she grew up loving and shared her enduring want for the nation to turn out to be much less divisive. She thanked her medical group and each one that had prayed for her.
Love stated her dad and mom immigrated to the US with $10 of their pocket and a perception that tough work would result in success. She stated she was raised to consider passionately within the American dream and “to like this nation, warts and all.” America at its roots is respectful, resilient, giving and grounded in gritty dedication, she stated.
Her profession in politics uncovered Like to America’s ugly aspect, however she stated it additionally gave her a entrance row seat to be impressed by folks’s hope and braveness. She shared her want for neighbors to return collectively and give attention to their similarities fairly than their variations.
“Some have forgotten the maths of America — everytime you divide you diminish,” Love wrote.
She urged elected officers to guide with compassion and talk actually with their constituents.
“Ultimately, I hope that my life may have mattered and made a distinction for the nation I really like and the household and associates I like,” Love wrote. “I hope you will notice the America I do know within the years forward, that you’ll hear my phrases within the whisper of the wind of freedom and really feel my presence within the flame of the enduring ideas of liberty. My residing want and fervent prayer for you and for this nation is that the America I’ve identified is the America you battle to protect.”
In 2016, going through reelection and following the discharge of a 2005 recording during which Trump made lewd feedback about groping ladies, Love skipped the Republican Nationwide Conference and launched a press release saying definitively that she wouldn’t vote for Trump. She as a substitute endorsed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz within the GOP race, however he dropped out months later.
Whereas searching for a 3rd time period in 2018, Love tried to separate herself Trump on commerce and immigration whereas nonetheless backing her social gathering’s positions on tax cuts. Regardless of Republican voters outnumbering Democrats by an almost three-to-one margin in her district, although, she misplaced by fewer than 700 votes to former Salt Lake Metropolis Mayor Ben McAdams, a Democrat.
Trump known as out Love by title in a information convention the morning after she misplaced, the place he additionally bashed different Republicans who didn’t absolutely embrace him.
“Mia Love gave me no love, and she or he misplaced,” Trump stated. “Too unhealthy. Sorry about that, Mia.”
After her loss, Love served as a political commentator on CNN and as a fellow on the College of Sydney.
Following Trump’s election in November, Love stated she was “OK with the result.”
“Sure, Trump says a variety of thoughtless issues which can be unlucky and unimaginable to defend. Nevertheless, his insurance policies have a excessive chance of benefiting all People,” Love wrote in a social media publish.
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