By T. Scott Boatright
Rep. Julia Letlow was sworn into office on Wednesday to represent Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District after winning a special election to replace her late husband, Luke Letlow, who died of COVID-19 complications in December, only before his term was set to begin this year.
Letlow, 40, is the first female Republican elected to Congress from Louisiana and will serve on the House Agriculture Committee and the House Education and Labor Committee.
She earned a majority of votes in a special primary election held last month to fill her late husband’s Congressional seat.
Letlow thanked her husband after being sworn into office by U.S. Speaker of the office Nancy Pelosi.
“I want to thank him for paving the way for me,” Julia Letlow said about her late husband. “Too many families like mine have experienced tragedy because of this pandemic. To those families: I see you, I hear you. And most importantly, I pray with you.”
Letlow pledged to support Louisiana’s agriculture industry in her Congressional role.
“The backbone of this district is agriculture,” Letlow said. “I’ve talked to a ton of farmers, ranchers, and loggers all over the district and they definitely want and need representation. The Farm Bill is coming down in 2022.”