Melinda Deslatte / AP
Updated at 6:30 a.m. ET
Congressman-elect Luke Letlow, who won a runoff earlier this month to represent Louisiana s northeastern 5th District, died Tuesday from complications of COVID-19.
Letlow was set to be sworn in as U.S. representative on Jan. 3. The family appreciates the numerous prayers and support over the past days but asks for privacy during this difficult and unexpected time, Andrew Bautsch, Letlow s spokesman, said in a statement announcing his death. A statement from the family along with funeral arrangements will be announced at a later time.
Letlow announced on Dec. 18 that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and was hospitalized a day later. He kept his followers updated of his condition on social media. Days before his death, he was in intensive care at St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe, La., and was later transferred to Ochsner LSU Health in Shreveport on Dec. 22.
Louisiana Congressman-elect Luke Letlow dies from COVID-19
Luke Letlow, R-Start, chief of staff to exiting U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham, speaks after signing up to run for Louisiana s 5th Congressional District, on July 22, 2020, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Melinda Deslatte)
Published December 30. 2020 11:14AM
Melinda Deslatte, Associated Press
BATON ROUGE, La. Luke Letlow, Louisiana s incoming Republican member of the U.S. House, has died from complications related to COVID-19 only days before he would have been sworn into office. He was 41.
The congressman-elect died at Ochsner-LSU Health Shreveport on Tuesday, according to his spokesman Andrew Bautsch.
“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.