Republican Louisiana Congressman-elect Luke Letlow, 41, has died from coronavirus eleven days after announcing he had tested positive for COVID-19.
The father-of-two told supporters on Twitter on December 18 that he had the virus. He had since tweeted multiple times asking people to donate plasma if they have it.
The following statement was issued by his campaign manager Andrew Bautsch on Tuesday night:
Republican Louisiana Congressman-elect Luke Letlow, 41, has died just ten days after announce
Letlow and his wife Julia with their two young children in a recent photo they used for their Thanksgiving card
‘Congressman-elect Luke Letlow, 41, passed away this evening at Ochsner-LSU Health Shreveport due to complications from COVID-19.
‘Letlow was admitted into a Monroe Hospital on December 19 after testing positive for the coronavirus and was transferred to Ochsner-LSU Health on Tuesday, December 22, and placed in intensive care.
‘Letlow is survived by his wife, Julia Barnhill Letlow, Phd., and two young children.
‘The family appreciates the numerous prayers and support over the past days but asks for privacy during this difficult and unexpected time.
‘A statement from the family along with funeral arrangements will be announced at a later time.’
Letlow is pictured in a family photo posted to his Facebook pages
Last Wednesday, his representative took over his account to publish a statement after he was moved into the ICU as a result of his worsening condition.
Letlow had been getting treatment in the intensive care unit in Shreveport and then had been receiving treatment at St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe, but was transferred to Ochsner LSU Health just before Christmas Eve.
He had been given Remdesivir and steroids – the same treatment President Trump was given.
It is also unclear if he had any pre-existing conditions.
Letlow, a Republican, won a runoff election on December 5 for the 5th District seat, which represents Northeast and Central Louisiana, and was due to be sworn in on Sunday.
He secured the seat with 62 percent of the vote and would have been Rep. Ralph Abraham’s successor who didn’t seek reelection after honoring a pledge to serve a limit of three terms.
Letlow had been Abraham’s chief of staff.
He is the first member or member-elect of Congress to die from the coronavirus.
Letlow is pictured at a campaign event earlier this year. Those attending were spaced apart
Letlow is pictured at another campaign event alongside some prospective voters
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards tweeted his condolences to Letlow’s family
Democrat Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA) also tweeted his sadness at Letlow’s passing
Gov. John Bel Edwards offered condolence via Twitter and in a lengthier statement
Gov. John Bel Edwards offered condolences via Twitter: ‘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. #lagov.’
‘COVID-19 has taken Congressman-elect Letlow from us far too soon,’ Edwards said in a lengthier statement. ‘I am heartbroken that he will not be able to serve our people as a U.S. representative, but I am even more devastated for his loving family.
‘I hope all of the people of Louisiana will join Donna and me in praying for Congressman-elect Letlow’s family, especially his wife Julia and their two children, his many friends and the people of the 5th Congressional District. Louisiana has lost more than 7,300 people to COVID-19 since March, and each one of them leaves a tremendous hole in our state.’
Gov. Edwards said that flags will be flown at half-staff on the day of Letlow’s funeral.
Louisiana State Fire Marshal Butch Browning shared a statement following the news of Letlow’s death: ‘This is a stunning loss that is hard to swallow. Luke was a longtime personal friend and avid supporter of the fire service and law enforcement, even serving as a volunteer firefighter in north Louisiana. The state has truly lost the opportunity to have a world-class ambassador on its side.’
Letlow had tweeted several times since receiving his diagnosis on December 18th
Letlow held multiple campaign events including meet-and-greets where people did not wear masks but appeared to be standing six feet apart.
On other occasions while campaigning, he was seen to be wearing a mask.
On December 18, he tweeted his diagnosis, saying: ‘Thank you to everyone for your kind words and prayers. I have tested positive for COVID-19.
‘I’m at home resting, following all CDC guidelines, quarantine protocols, and the recommendations of my doctors.’
It’s unclear if any of his family has the virus. Letlow was married with two young children.
Letlow and his family pictured last month casting their votes at a local elementary school
Letlow was from Start, a small rural community east of Monroe, Louisiana.
He had previously worked for Bobby Jindal when Jindal was in Congress and later in the governor’s office.
He arrived in Abraham’s office in 2014 after a stint working for a Denver energy company in governmental relations but he seemed as though he had been preparing for Congress all of his life ever since he was president of the College Republicans at Louisiana Tech University.
He interned for former Louisiana Republican 5th District Congressman John Cooksey of Monroe and was so keen to be involved after returning home he became Cooksey’s driver in 2001 while still in college.
‘I basically went to night school after that,’ Letlow said.
Letlow then managed to become involved Bobby Jindal working on his failed 2003 governor’s campaign.
When Jindal finally became Louisiana’s Republican Governor from 2008 to 2016, Letlow was there once again, working as a senior staffer for the young governor during his first term.
Letlow was able to connect Jindal with Louisiana’s rural voters.
He took him to Protestant churches, volunteer fire stations and convenience stores at country crossroads in northern and central Louisiana according to The News-Star.
‘In his first campaign Bobby had trouble connecting with rural voters; we changed that in 2007,’ said Letlow.
‘Those were exciting times,’ he said. ‘Bobby was young and brilliant and energetic. It was an electric atmosphere.’
Just two years into Jindal’s first term as governor Letlow left the team abruptly after sensing that Jindal’s focus was shifting to national politics and a possible presidential bid.
‘There’s not necessarily anything wrong with that, but it wasn’t a path I wanted to take even though I thought he might win,’ he said.
The Congressman-elect sometimes wore a mask when campaigning, sometimes he didn’t
Letlow is pictured in July after signing up to run for Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District in Baton Rouge, Louisiana