U.S. Rep. Mia Love won re-election in Utah on Nov. 8 after defeating Democrat Doug Owens for the second time, while U.S. Sen. Mike Lee defeated political newcomer Misty Snow.
The other members of the state’s congressional delegation up for reelection — Republican Reps. Jason Chaffetz, Chris Stewart and Rob Bishop — also sailed to wins in their bids for new terms.
Republican Rep. Mia Love visits with supporters at Noah’s in South Jordan, Utah, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016. (Rick Egan/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)
Love, who became the first black Republican woman in Congress when she won two years ago, faced an expensive challenge from Owens, a Democrat who put up a strong fight in the previously blue 4th District. It covers parts of Salt Lake, Utah, Juab and Sanpete counties and was held by U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson until Love’s win two years ago.
To lock up another term, Love was careful this year to keep her distance from Donald Trump, who was unpopular with many Utah voters.
Love skipped the Republican National Convention and released a statement saying definitively that she would not vote for him following the release of a 2005 recording in which the billionaire made lewd comments about women. Love said Nov. 8 that she wrote in Mike Pence, Trump’s running mate, for president.
When asked about Trump’s win, she said, “I think it’s better than the alternative. It’s given me a lot of hope for the country.”
With her own re-election, Love said she wants to work on veteran’s issues and on trying to free a Utah man, Joshua Holt, who is imprisoned in Venezuela.