First Black Republican Congresswoman Mia Love has died after a three-year battle with brain cancer. She was 49.
Love served as the U.S. representative for Utah’s 4th congressional district from 2015 to 2019. The former flight attendant moved to Utah in 1998 and became a member of the Mormon Church.
In February 2022, Love was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Doctors predicted she had 10 to 15 months to live.
My message this week is for you and your children. It is for my children. It is that you are qualified, not because of where you live, what you believe, what you earn, your race or gender or anything else – but by the content of your character.
From Qualified (… pic.twitter.com/UPuzjOOIxY
— Mia Love (@MiaBLove) March 17, 2025
Love had surgery to remove 95% of the tumor and she underwent chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments. By August 2023, the tumor showed signs of shrinking.
On March 1, 2025, Love’s daughter Abigale Love announced on social media that the treatments were no longer effective, and the family was moving “from treatment to enjoying [their] remaining time with her”.
Hello Friends, I’m Mia’s daughter Abigale. Many of you are aware that Mom has been fighting GBM brain cancer. Sadly her cancer is no longer responding to treatment and the cancer is progressing. We have a shifted our focus from treatment to enjoying our remaining time with her. I… pic.twitter.com/xlJfSC3IX7
— Mia Love (@MiaBLove) March 1, 2025
On Sunday, March 23, her daughter announced Love’s passing.
“Love Family: 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,” read the statement on X/Twitter.
“She was in her home surrounded by 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. We are thankful for the many good wishes, prayers and condolences. We are taking some time as a family and will provide information about funeral services and a public celebration of her life in the days to come.”
Love Family: 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. She was in her home surrounded by family. In the midst of a celebration of her life and an avalanche of happy… pic.twitter.com/YzhAuH1l9x
— Mia Love (@MiaBLove) March 24, 2025
Love is survived by her husband Jason Love and their three children.
The American Cancer Society recently announced that while cancer death rates have dropped 34% between 1991 and 2022, people below age 50 are seeing higher rates of cancer deaths.
Doctors have concerns about rising rates of brain, colon, breast, and cervical cancers among people age 50 and under.
Cancer is the leading cause of disease-related death among children and adolescents.
In 2025, the American Cancer Society estimates that over 15,000 children and adolescents will be diagnosed with cancer, and that 1,050 children and 600 adolescents will die.
Doctors are scrambling to find the cause behind the frightening increase in cancers among people age 50 and under.
