Mia Love

Ludmya "Mia" Love (née Bourdeau; December 6, 1975 – March 23, 2025) was an influential American political figure and commentator, recognized for her groundbreaking role as the first Haitian American elected to the U.S. Congress, as well as the first Black American representative from Utah. A member of the Republican Party, she served Utah's 4th congressional district from 2015 until 2019.

Born in Brooklyn to Haitian immigrant parents and raised in Connecticut, Love pursued higher education at the University of Hartford. Her political career began in Saratoga Springs, Utah, where she was elected mayor in 2010 after serving on the City Council. Love gained national attention when she delivered a speech at the 2012 Republican National Convention. In her first congressional campaign that same year, she narrowly lost to incumbent Jim Matheson. However, she successfully secured a seat in 2014, defeating Democratic challenger Doug Owens, and was re-elected in 2016.

Her tenure came to an end in 2018 when she was unseated by Democrat Ben McAdams by a slim margin of 694 votes. Following her congressional career, Love joined CNN in 2019 as a political commentator, sharing her insights on various political matters. Mia Love passed away from glioblastoma on March 23, 2025, leaving behind a legacy as a trailblazer and advocate for diversity in American politics.