SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Former U.S. 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 acquired immunotherapy as a part of a scientific trial at Duke College’s mind tumor heart. Her daughter mentioned earlier this month that the previous lawmaker was now not responding to therapy.
Love died at her house in Saratoga Springs, Utah, based on 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 mentioned. “We’re grateful for the various good needs, prayers and condolences.”
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox referred to Love as a “true pal” and mentioned in a press release that her legacy of service impressed all who knew her.
Love entered politics in 2003 after successful a seat on the town council in Saratoga Springs, a rising group about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Salt Lake Metropolis. She later grew to become the town’s mayor.
In 2012, Love narrowly misplaced a bid for the Home in opposition to 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 mentioned her win defied naysayers who had advised {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 into much less divisive. She thanked her medical crew and each one that had prayed for her.
Love mentioned her dad and mom immigrated to the U.S. with $10 of their pocket and a perception that arduous work would result in success. She mentioned 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 willpower, she mentioned.
Her profession in politics uncovered Like to America’s ugly facet, however she mentioned it additionally gave her a entrance row seat to be impressed by individuals’s hope and braveness. She shared her want for neighbors to come back collectively and concentrate on their similarities slightly than their variations.
“Some have forgotten the mathematics of America — everytime you divide you diminish,” Love wrote.
She urged elected officers to steer with compassion and talk actually with their constituents.
“Ultimately, I hope that my life can have mattered and made a distinction for the nation I 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 dwelling want and fervent prayer for you and for this nation is that the America I’ve recognized is the America you combat to protect.”
In 2016, dealing with reelection and following the discharge of a 2005 recording by 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 from Trump on commerce and immigration whereas nonetheless backing her get together’s positions on tax cuts. Regardless of Republican voters outnumbering Democrats by a virtually three-to-one margin in her district, although, she misplaced by fewer than 700 votes to Democrat Ben McAdams, a former Salt Lake County mayor.
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 mentioned. “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 mentioned she was “OK with the end result.”
“Sure, Trump says a number of thoughtless issues which can be unlucky and unattainable to defend,” Love wrote in a social media put up. “Nonetheless, his insurance policies have a excessive chance of benefiting all Individuals.”
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Brown reported from Billings, Montana.
