Congressman-elect Luke Letlow died Tuesday night at a Louisiana hospital of coronavirus complications after being hospitalized for 11 days. He was 41 years old.
Letlow was just days away from being sworn in as the United States representative in Louisiana’s 5th congressional district as the state’s youngest congressman.
His death was announced by spokesman Andrew Bautsch in a statement posted on Facebook.
“The family thanks the numerous prayers and support in the last few days, but asks for privacy during this difficult and unexpected period,” said Bautsch.
On December 18, Letlow announced via Twitter that he had tested positive for the virus and would be isolating himself.
His condition seemed to have worsened rapidly when he was admitted to the hospital the next day.
On a last week updateGE Ghali, Chancellor of LSU Health Shreveport, said Letlow was in a stable condition in an intensive care unit, where he was receiving steroids and the antiviral drug.
Ghali told The Advocate that Letlow had no underlying health problems.
Letlow won a runoff election on December 6th to replace Republican Ralph Abraham, for whom he had previously worked as chief of staff.
During his campaign, he frequently shared photos of himself in small outdoor meetings, sometimes wearing a mask and sometimes not.
His passing was mourned by other Republican members of the Louisiana Congress.
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards ordered the flags to be lowered to half the staff in the state to celebrate Letlow.
“COVID-19 took Congressman-elect Letlow from us too early,” said Bel Edwards on Twitter. “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.”
Letlow leaves his wife and two young children.