Luke Joshua Letlow, became the first US congressman-elect to die from Covid 19, at age 41. He had been elected to Louisiana’s 5th district and was due to be sworn in on Sunday.
“It is with heavy hearts that @FirstLadyOfLA and I offer our condolences to Congressman-elect Luke Letlow’s family on his passing after a battle with Covid-19,” Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards tweeted.
Mr. Letlow is survived by his wife, Julia Barnhill Letlow, and two young children.
Letlow was born and brought up n the rural unincorporated community of Start, west of Monroe. He worked for Bobby Jindal during Jindal’s tenure in the United States House of Representatives for Louisiana’s 1st congressional district as his congressional district director from 2005 to 2008.
Letlow returned to Louisiana in 2014 to serve as campaign manager for Ralph Abraham during his ele ction for Louisiana’s 5th congressional district .
Luke Letlow wife Julia and children
After Abraham opted to not seek reelection in 2020, Letlow announced his candidacy on March 9, 2020;. braham publicly supported and endorsed him in tandem with Letlow’s announcement. In the Nonpartisan blanket primary, Letlow secured first place with 33% of the votes.
On December 18, 2020, Letlow announced that he had tested positive for the virus. He was hospitalized in Monroe After his condition took a turn for the worse, he was transferred to the ICU of Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport on December 23. On December 29, Letlow died of COVID-19 related complications, at the age of 41. We pray for the family’s strength in these trying times.
