Rep. Mia Love was once viewed as a rising star in the Republican Party. | Scott G Winterton/Deseret News, via AP, Pool Rep. Mia Love loses to Democrat in Utah

Rep. Mia Love was ousted Tuesday night after late returns pushed Democrat Ben McAdams ahead of the two-term incumbent in deep-red Utah.

The Associated Press called the 4th Congressional District race for McAdams, who holds a lead of just under 700 votes two weeks after the midterm elections.


A rising Republican star, Love was the first black female Republican ever elected to Congress. She was often viewed a figure who could signal the future of a more diverse GOP, and she was the sole GOP member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

But like many Republicans, Love faced an up-current of dissent over President Donald Trump that she was able to overcome in 2016 but was unable to defy two years later. For its largely Republican makeup, Utahans have always been uneasy about Trump and Love's district was the GOP’s weakest point. Add to that McAdams‘ status as Salt Lake County mayor and Love's race was pegged by many prognosticators, including POLITICO, as a toss-up.

Trump mocked Love along with a handful of other House Republicans the day after the midterms for refusing to embrace him enough.

"Mia Love gave me no love and she lost,” Trump said. “Too bad. Sorry about that, Mia."

Love was among more than a dozen Republicans who distanced themselves from then-candidate Trump when the “Access Hollywood“ tape came out in October 2016; earlier, she had skipped the Republican National Convention.

After his election, Love called out the president for reportedly calling Haiti, home of her parents, a "shithole" country, deeming his comments racist.

"I can't defend the indefensible. You have to understand that there are countries that struggle out there. But their people, their people are good people and they're part of us. We're Americans," Love said during an interview on CNN.

McAdams’ victory means House Democrats will hold at least 234 seats as the majority party in January when the new Congress is sworn in. The party has now flipped 42 seats, a net gain of 39.

According to Cook Political Report editor Dave Wasserman, Love's loss means House Republicans will lose 43 percent of their female members at a time when there will be more women serving in Congress than ever before — a historic result powered almost entirely by newly elected House Democrats.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this report misidentified where Ben McAdams is mayor.