Louisiana-elected Congressman Luke Letlow died of COVID-19 at Ochsner-LSU Health Shreveport on Tuesday, his campaign manager confirmed. The 41-year-old Republican had only announced his COVID-19 diagnosis 11 days earlier.
Letlow defeated Representative Lance Harris in a December 5 second election to become the representative for Louisiana’s 5th Congressional district. He would replace Republican Ralph Abraham, who served three terms and for whom Letlow served as chief of staff.
“There are no words for this loss,” Abraham said in a statement. “There was no one like Luke Letlow, and no one who loved this state and its people anymore. Luke was part of our family and we are so incredibly proud of the man he was. Luke leaves a legacy of service. , a love for his community, and a love and understanding for people of every level who will be forever unparalleled. ”
Just two weeks after the win, Letlow announced he had tested positive for COVID-19. Within days, the elected congressman was hospitalized. On 23 December, a Letlow representative said he was in “stable condition” in an intensive care unit and received Remdesivir and steroids.
He leaves behind his wife and two young children.
“COVID-19 took away Congressman-elect Letlow from us far too soon. I am heartbroken that he will not be able to serve our people as a representative of the US, but I am even more devastated by his loving family,” said Gov. John Bel. Louisiana. Edwards said in a statement on Tuesday. “Louisiana has lost more than 7,300 people to COVID-19 since March, and each one of them leaves a huge hole in our state.”
Flags in the state will fly half-staff on Letlow’s funeral, Edwards said. Funeral details and arrangements have not yet been announced.
Louisiana Secretary of State Robert Kyle Ardoin tweeted that “hearts are heavy” and that Letlow was a “man who dedicated his short life to the betterment of our state and our nation.”
Louisiana Representative Mike Johnson tweeted that he is “in shock tonight and can’t find words to match.” He and the other five members of the state congressional delegation issued a joint statement saying they were “devastated” by Letlow’s death.
“Luke had such a positive attitude and had a tremendously bright future ahead of him. He looked forward to serving the people of Louisiana in Congress, and we were delighted to welcome him to our delegation where he was ready to launch a A greater impact on our state and nation, ”they said.“ Luke was above all a loving husband, father, brother and son, and his family, like so many others affected by this evil disease, need our prayers. ‘
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also expressed condolences, saying Letlow was “a ninth generation Louisian who fought passionately for his stand and dedicated his life to public service.”
“As the House mourns the death of elected congressman Letlow, our grief is compounded by the grief of so many other families who have also suffered lives from this horrible virus,” added Pelosi.
Letlow has done just that in recent months Posted countless photos of himself and dozens of others campaign and community events without masks and without social distance. He had also urged states to “reopen the economy“amid the pandemic.
According to Johns Hopkins University, more than 304,000 people in Louisiana have tested positive for COVID-19. Nationally, there have been more than 19.5 million cases and more than 338,000 deaths.