Luke Letlow, a Republican who was elected to the Home of Representatives this month to signify Louisiana’s Fifth Congressional District, died on Tuesday night of issues from Covid-19, a spokesman stated. He was 41.
Mr. Letlow was set to take workplace on Sunday. His loss of life was confirmed by a number of politicians, together with Consultant Garret Graves of Louisiana, who said in a Fb submit that the loss of life of his good friend and “former co-worker” was “an enormous loss to Louisiana and America.” Mr. Letlow died on the Ochsner L.S.U. Well being hospital in Shreveport, La., stated the spokesman, Andrew Bautsch.
Mr. Letlow stated on Dec. 18 that he was isolating at house after testing constructive for the coronavirus. He was later hospitalized in Monroe, La., earlier than being transferred to the hospital in Shreveport, Mr. Bautsch said on Dec. 23. Mr. Letlow had been receiving the antiviral drug remdesivir and steroids to deal with his an infection, Mr. Bautsch stated.
On Dec. 21, whereas he was hospitalized in Monroe, Mr. Letlow urged individuals who had recovered from Covid-19 to donate their plasma. “Your plasma is ESPECIALLY wanted by those that are struggling,” he wrote in a tweet. “I can not stress this sufficient. Please take into account saving lives by going out and donating at your native blood financial institution.”
He didn’t have any underlying circumstances that might have elevated his possibilities of dying from Covid-19, Dr. G.E. Ghali, a health care provider on the Shreveport hospital, told The Advocate in Baton Rouge, La.
Mr. Letlow, in a runoff earlier this month in opposition to one other Republican, had been elected to succeed Consultant Ralph Abraham, whom Mr. Letlow had served as chief of workers.
Mr. Letlow is survived by his spouse, Julia, and their two youngsters, Jeremiah and Jacqueline.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated in an announcement, “Tonight, america Home of Representatives sadly mourns the passing of Congressman-elect Luke Letlow.
“Congressman-elect Letlow was a ninth-generation Louisianan who fought passionately for his standpoint and devoted his life to public service,” she stated.
Kevin McCarthy, the Home minority chief, stated, “Our hearts break tonight as we course of the information of Congressman-elect Luke Letlow’s passing.”
Gov. John Bel Edwards of Louisiana stated on Tuesday night that Covid-19 had “taken Congressman-elect Letlow from us far too quickly.” Mr. Edwards, a Democrat, stated he had ordered flags to be flown at half-staff on the day of Mr. Letlow’s funeral.
Consultant Mike Johnson, a Republican who represents the state’s Fourth Congressional District, issued an announcement on behalf of the state’s six-member Congressional delegation: “We’re devastated to listen to of Luke Letlow’s passing. Luke had such a constructive spirit, and he had a tremendously vivid future forward of him. He was trying ahead to serving the individuals of Louisiana in Congress, and we have been excited to welcome him to our delegation the place he was able to make a good better influence on our state and our nation.”
Bobby Jindal, the previous governor of Louisiana whom Mr. Letlow had beforehand labored for when Mr. Jindal was a congressional candidate, consultant and governor, stated the congressman-elect “had talked in current days about his pleasure concerning the alternative to serve” his district.
“I first met Luke when he was nonetheless a school scholar, and spent numerous hours with him in his truck driving the again roads of Louisiana,” Mr. Jindal stated. “His ardour for service has been a continuing all through his life.”
In line with Ballotopedia, Mr. Letlow is the primary elected federal official to die from Covid; the primary member of the federal authorities to die from it was a decide.
Different elected officers to die from Covid embrace a number of state legislators: a Republican state senator from Minnesota, New Hampshire’s new Republican speaker of the Home of Representatives, and in North Dakota, David Dean Andahl, a Republican often known as “Dakota Dave,” who was elected posthumously to the state Home of Representatives after dying from the virus.
