Luke Letlow obit

Louisiana Congressman-elect Luke Letlow dies after being hospitalized with coronavirus

 

 He was not on the list.

Louisiana Congressman-elect Luke Letlow died 10 days after being hospitalized at Ochsner LSU Health in Shreveport with COVID-19, Gov. John Bel Edwards said Tuesday night on Twitter.

“Congressman-elect Letlow felt a calling from a young age to serve the people of his home state, working behind the scenes for former Governor Bobby Jindal and serving as chief of staff to Congressman Ralph Abraham, who he was recently elected to succeed,” Edwards said. “COVID-19 has taken Congressman-elect Letlow from us far too soon. 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 has ordered flags to be flown at half staff on the day of Congressman-elect Letlow’s funeral.

Letlow was elected to succeed Ralph Abraham to represent District 5 in Congress, which includes part of East and West Feliciana. He recently turned 41 and leaves behind a wife and two young children.

A spokesperson for Gov. John Bel Edwards says qualifying for the election for Letlow’s seat will start Jan. 20, 2021. The primary election will be held in March 2021.

“Luke was part of our family. We loved him. We’re gonna miss him,” Abraham said. “He loved America. He loved his God and he loved his family.”

State leaders, including Gov. John Bel Edwards, offered their condolences on Twitter.