Luke Letlow, the newly elected member of Congress from Louisiana, died Tuesday night from complications related to COVID-19, a spokesman announced.
The Associated Press reported earlier this month that Letlow, a 41-year-old Republican, had been hospitalized after being diagnosed with the virus. He was days away from being sworn into office.
The family said in a statement that he was admitted to a hospital in Monroe, La., on Dec. 19, and then transferred to the Shreveport facility when his condition worsened.
Dr. G.E. Ghali, of LSU Health Shreveport, told NOLA.com that Letlow was in critical condition but showed signs of improvement. He “apparently suffered a cardiac event this evening that was refractory to all resuscitation efforts.”
Rep. Steve Scalise, another Republican from the state, issued a statement calling Letlow a “positive spirit” who had a “tremendously bright future ahead of him.”
Andrew Bautsch, the Letlow spokesman, confirmed the congressman-elect’s death at Ochsner-LSU Health Shreveport.
“The family appreciates the numerous prayers and support over the past days but asks for privacy during this difficult and unexpected time,” Bautsch said in a statement.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi also issued a statement saying the entire body mourns his passing.
“May it be a comfort to Luke’s wife Julia and their children Jeremiah and Jacqueline that so many mourn their loss and are praying for them at this sad time,” she wrote in a statement.
Letlow won his first race for Congress after defeating three-term state Rep. Lance Harris, according to the News-Star.
Letlow said in a statement at the time that he ran for office because “I know firsthand what our needs are, and because I will serve this district to get real results for our constituents. Each and every person across our rural landscape, whether it’s Bastrop, Bunkie, Bogalusa, or all the places in between, has my word that I will never stop fighting to move Louisiana’s 5th District forward.”
He is survived by his wife, Julia Barnhill Letlow, and two children.
This is an excerpt from Fox News.
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