Mia Love Will Be the First Black Republican Woman in Congress

Last night, Utah Republican Mia Love made history with a narrowly won election to a House seat, becoming the first black woman to represent the Republican Party in Congress.

38-year-old Love lost a close 2012 race against Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson, who declined to run for re-election in these midterm elections. Running in the same district, Ms. Love defeated Democrat Doug Owens by 64,390 votes to 60,165 votes, or 50% to 47%.



“This is a great night for our nation. It is especially a great night for Utah,” Love told supporters. Referring to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or the Mormon Church, she went on, “Many of the naysayers out there said that Utah would never elect a black, Republican, LDS woman to Congress. And guess what? Not only did we do it, we were the first to do it.”

Love was formerly mayor of Saratoga Springs, Utah. She's a mother of three and the daughter of Haitian immigrants.

She received national attention after her speech at the 2012 Republican National Convention.