Rep.-elect Luke Letlow (R-La.) has died from coronavirus.
He was 41.
Letlow, who announced on Dec. 18 that he tested positive for Covid-19, had been in the intensive care unit at Ochsner LSU Health in Shreveport.
“The family appreciates the numerous prayers and support over the past days but asks for privacy during this difficult and unexpected time,” the family said in a statement that was first reported by the Monroe News-Star. “A statement from the family along with funeral arrangements will be announced at a later time.”
Letlow, who served as chief of staff to former Rep. Ralph Abraham (R-La.) before being elected to fill that seat, was supposed to be sworn into Congress on Sunday.
He is the first member or member-elect of Congress to die from the coronavirus.
On December 21, Letlow tweeted that he was confident he would recover:
Thank you for the continued outpouring of prayers and support for my family and me. I am currently undergoing treatment for COVID-19 at St. Francis Hospital by a wonderful team of doctors and nurses. I am confident that with their help that I will be on the mend soon.
— Luke Letlow (@LukeLetlow) December 21, 2020
But symptoms persisted and eventually he left quarantining at his Richland Parish home and was transferred to Shreveport.
Gov. John Bel Edwards offered condolences via Twitter: “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. #lagov.”
Liz Cheney, the GOP conference chairwoman in Congress, also mourned Letlow’s passing: “Such devastating news about Congressman-elect Letlow. A tremendous loss – we will be praying for Luke and his family.’
Letlow is survived by his wife, Julia Barnhill Letlow, and two children.