Payam Javan: Former U.S. Representative Mia Love, the first Black Republican woman elected to Congress, passed away on Sunday at the age of 49 after a three-year battle with brain cancer. Love, a Haitian-American who represented Utah’s 4th Congressional District from 2015 to 2019, died peacefully at her home in Saratoga Springs, surrounded by family. Her family announced the news on her X account, expressing gratitude for the support and prayers they received, noting that she “quietly slipped the bands of mortality” during a celebration of her life.

Love’s political career began in Saratoga Springs, where she served as a city council member and later mayor, before making history in Congress. Diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2022, she underwent treatment, including an immunotherapy clinical trial at Duke University, but her daughter recently shared that the cancer had stopped responding. Utah Governor Spencer Cox mourned her loss, calling her a “true trailblazer” whose legacy inspired many through her dedication to public service and the American dream.