Luke Letlow, a Republican who was elected to the House of Representatives this fall to represent Louisiana’s fifth congressional district, died of complications from Covid-19, said a state congressman. He was 41 years old.
Mr. Letlow was set to take office on Sunday. Her death was confirmed by Representative Garret Graves of Louisiana, who said in a Facebook post that the death of her “friend, former co-worker, Julia’s husband, father of two very young children” was “a great loss for Louisiana and America. “
Mr. Letlow was hospitalized this month with Covid-19. He was transferred to Shreveport Academic Medical Center, Andrew Bautsch, the executive director of the state Republican Party, said on December 23, where Mr. Letlow was in “stable condition”. He was receiving remdesivir and steroids to treat the infection, Bautsch said.
Governor John Bel Edwards of Louisiana said late on Tuesday that Covid-19 “took Congressman-elect Letlow from us too early.” Edwards, a Democrat, said he ordered the flags to be flown at half-mast on the day of Letlow’s funeral.
“I am heartbroken that he cannot serve our people as a representative of the United States, but I am even more devastated by his loving family,” said Edwards.
Representative Mike Johnson, a Republican who represents the state’s fourth congressional district, issued a statement on behalf of the state’s six-member congressional delegation: “We are devastated to hear of Luke Letlow’s passing. Luke had a very positive spirit and a tremendously bright future ahead. He was looking forward to serving the people of Louisiana in Congress and we were excited to welcome him to our delegation, where he was ready to make an even bigger impact on our state and our nation. “
Other elected officials who died from Covid include several state legislators: a Minnesota Republican state senator, the new Republican president of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, and, in North Dakota, David Dean Andahl, a Republican known as “Dakota Dave,” who was posthumously elected to the state House of Representatives after dying from the virus.