Louisiana’s elected congressman, Luke Letlow, died on Tuesday of COVID-19 at Ochsner-LSU Health Shreveport, confirmed his campaign manager. The 41-year-old Republican announced his diagnosis of COVID-19 just 11 days earlier.
Letlow defeated Representative Lance Harris in a run-off election on December 5 to become the representative of Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District. He was chosen to replace Republican Ralph Abraham, who served for three terms, and for whom Letlow served as chief of staff.
“There are no words for this loss,” said Abraham in a statement. “There was no one like Luke Letlow, and there was no one who loved this state and its people any more. Luke was part of our family, and we are very proud of the man he was. Luke leaves behind a legacy of service, a love for their community and a love and understanding of people from all walks of life who will be forever unmatched. ”
Just two weeks after the victory, Letlow announced he had tested positive for COVID-19. Within days, the elected congressman was hospitalized. In December 23, a representative for Letlow said he was in “stable condition” in an intensive care unit and was receiving Remdesivir and steroids.
He leaves his wife and two young children.
“COVID-19 took congressman-elect Letlow from us too early. I am heartbroken that he cannot serve our people as a representative of the USA, but I am even more devastated by his loving family,” Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said Tuesday in a statement. “Louisiana has lost more than 7,300 people to COVID-19 since March, and each has left a huge hole in our state.”
State flags will fly at half-mast on the day of Letlow’s funeral, Edwards said. Details and funeral 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 improving our state and our nation”.
Louisiana representative Mike Johnson tweeted that he is “in shock tonight and without proper words”. He and the other five members of the state congressional delegation issued a joint statement, saying they are “devastated” by Letlow’s death.
“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 face the greatest impact on our state and our nation “, they said. “More than anything, Luke was a loving husband, father, brother and son, and his family, like so many others who have been affected by this malignant disease, needs our prayers.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also offered words of condolence, saying Letlow was “a ninth generation Louisianan who passionately fought for his point of view and dedicated his life to public service.”
“While the House regrets the death of Congressman-elect Letlow, our sadness is compounded by the sadness of so many other families who have also suffered lives interrupted by this terrible virus,” added Pelosi.
In recent months, Letlow posted numerous photos of himself and dozens of others in campaign and community events without masks and without social distance. He also pressured states to “reopen the economy“in the midst of the pandemic.
More than 304,000 people in Louisiana tested positive for COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins University. Across the country, there were more than 19.5 million cases and more than 338,000 deaths.