US Congressman-elect Luke Letlow passes away due to Covid complications

A congressman-elect Luke Joshua Letlow from Louisiana in United States died of Covid-19, the state’s governor, John Bel Edwards announced on Tuesday night. He was 41.

A Republican, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives for Louisiana's 5th congressional district in 2020 but died of COVID-19 before he could take office.

Edwards, in a series of tweets, said that Letlow, a Republican, “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” on Abraham’s staff.

He wrote, "It is with heavy hearts that @FirstLadyOfLA and I offer our condolences to Congressman-elect Luke Letlow’s family on his passing after a battle with COVID-19. 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. 

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. I have ordered flags to be flown at half-staff on the day of Congressman-elect Letlow’s funeral, he wrote in another tweet.

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. #lagov

— John Bel Edwards (@LouisianaGov) December 30, 2020

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. #lagov

— John Bel Edwards (@LouisianaGov) December 30, 2020

I have ordered flags to be flown at half-staff on the day of Congressman-elect Letlow’s funeral. #lagov

— John Bel Edwards (@LouisianaGov) December 30, 2020