Congressman-Elect Luke Letlow Dies Of COVID-19 Complications

Congressman-elect Luke Letlow (R-La.) has died of COVID-19.

The 41-year-old contracted the virus on Dec. 18 and was later moved to an intensive care unit in Shreveport, Louisiana, for treatment as his condition worsened. 

He “apparently suffered a cardiac event this evening,” and efforts to resuscitate him failed, Dr. G.E. Ghali of LSU Health Shreveport told The New Orleans Advocate . Ghali added that Letlow’s condition, though still critical, had apparently been improving when the cardiac event occurred. 

Letlow, who was elected in a December runoff, was set to take office Sunday as Louisiana’s youngest ever congressman. 

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) expressed grief at Letlow’s passing. 

“COVID-19 has taken Congressman-elect Letlow from us far too soon,” he wrote on Twitter. “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.”

Letlow is survived by his wife, Julie Barnhill Letlow, and two young children, his spokesperson Andrew Bautsch said in a statement.

He is the first member or member-elect of Congress known to have died from complications of the coronavirus, Politico noted . 

 A HuffPost Guide To Coronavirus