In yesterday’s election, Mia Love won Utah‘s 4th district and became the first Black Republican woman elected to Congress. Although the day had a rough start, the former Mayor of Saratoga Springs made her way to victory around 11 p.m PT that night. She finished with an estimated 64,390 votes. Democrat Doug Owens finished with 60,165 votes.
“Understand that Utahans have made a statement that they’re not interested in dividing Americans based on race or gender, that they want to make sure that they are electing people who are honest and who have integrity. …That’s really what made history here. Race, gender, had nothing to do with it,” Love said to CNN hosts Michaela Pereira and John Berman.
Related: To Be Young, Black & Republican
Because Jim Matheson did not run for another term, the state of Utah will no longer have any Democratic representation. Two years ago, Love lost to Matheson. She’s devoted to working hard for the citizens who did – and didn’t – vote her into office this time around.
“I wasn’t elected because of the color of my skin, I wasn’t elected because of my gender. I was elected because of the solutions that I put at the table because I promised I would run a positive issues-oriented campaign and that’s what resonated,” explained Love.
In addition to outside group contributions of about $155,000, Republicans across the country also supported her, which resulted in a sizable campaign marketing fund.