Julia Letlow

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Julia Letlow
File:Julia Letlow 117th (cropped2).jpg
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Louisiana's 5th district
Assumed office
April 14, 2021[1]
Preceded by Ralph Abraham[lower-alpha 1]
Personal details
Born Julia Janelle Barnhill
(1981-03-16) March 16, 1981 (age 43)
Monroe, Louisiana, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Luke Letlow (m. 2013; d. 2020)
Children 2
Education University of Louisiana at Monroe (BA, MA)
University of South Florida (PhD)
Website House website

Julia Janelle Letlow (née Barnhill; born March 16, 1981) is an American politician and academic administrator serving as the U.S. representative for Louisiana's 5th congressional district since 2021.[4] Letlow is the first Republican woman to represent Louisiana in the House.[5]

Early life and education

Letlow was born Julia Janelle Barnhill on March 16, 1981, in Monroe, Louisiana. She graduated from Ouachita Christian High School.[6] She earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in speech communications from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, followed by a Doctor of Philosophy in communications from the University of South Florida in 2012. Her doctoral advisor was Jane Jorgenson. Letlow's dissertation was titled Giving Meaning to Grief: the Role of Rituals and Stories in Coping with Sudden Family Loss.[7] She dedicated it to her brother, Jeremy, who died in an automobile collision.[8]

Early career

Letlow worked as director of education and patient safety for Tulane University School of Medicine.[9] In 2018, she was named director of external affairs and strategic communications for the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM).[10] In 2020, she was a finalist for the presidency of ULM.[11]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2021 Special

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Main article: 2021 Louisiana's 5th congressional district special election

Letlow's husband, Luke Letlow, was elected to the United States House of Representatives for Louisiana's 5th congressional district in the 2020 elections, but died of complications from COVID-19 infection in December 2020, before taking office.[12] Julia decided to run in the special election for the vacant seat in January 2021.[13] During her campaign, she secured a number of high-profile endorsements, including one from former President Donald Trump.[14] By the end of February, Letlow had raised $683,000, the most money raised by any candidate in the race.[15] On March 20, she received over 64% of the vote in the nonpartisan blanket primary, winning the election outright and avoiding a runoff. Letlow is the first Republican woman elected to Congress from Louisiana.[16][17]

Tenure

She was sworn in on April 14.[8] On August 12, 2022, Letlow voted against the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.[18]

Committee assignments

Political positions

Immigration

Letlow released a statement criticizing the Biden administration for "immigration detainees being released" in Louisiana, writing, "I join my fellow members of the Louisiana delegation in demanding a thorough and complete explanation of this situation and urge the Administration to stop these releases immediately".[20]

Infrastructure

In July 2021, Letlow told KNOE-TV that there was "Nothing like a pandemic to bring to light how vital rural broadband is to our district", and said that rural broadband can provide better access to quality healthcare and education. KNOE wrote that Letlow still did not commit to supporting the infrastructure plan proposed by Joe Biden, with Letlow arguing that "You know, it’s the political football... I really want to make sure that that infrastructure bill addresses true infrastructure needs. Roads, bridges, ports, rural broadband. Cut the other part out."[21]

2020 presidential election

Letlow said she would have joined the majority of Republican representatives in objecting the results of the 2020 presidential election in Congress, had she been in office at the time.[15]

Personal life

Letlow met her former husband in high school and they married in 2013.[22][9] She had two children with him.[23] Letlow addressed vaccine hesitancy among Republicans and encouraged them to get the COVID-19 vaccine, invoking her husband's death from the virus.[24]

Electoral history

2021 Louisiana's 5th congressional district special election[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Julia Letlow 67,203 64.86
Democratic Sandra "Candy" Christophe 28,255 27.27
Republican Chad Conerly 5,497 5.31
Republican Robert Lansden 929 0.90
Republican Allen Guillory 464 0.45
Independent Jim Davis 402 0.39
Republican Sancha Smith 334 0.32
Republican M.V. "Vinny" Mendoza 236 0.23
Independent Jaycee Magnuson 131 0.13
Republican Richard H. Pannell 67 0.06
Republican Horace Melton III 62 0.06
Republican Errol Victor Sr. 36 0.03
Total votes 103,616 100.00
Republican hold

Notes

  1. ↑ Letlow's husband Luke Letlow was elected to succeed retiring Representative Ralph Abraham, but died on December 29, 2020, of COVID-19, before taking office.[2] A special election was held on March 20, 2021, and it was won by Letlow.[3]

References

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External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Louisiana's 5th congressional district
2021–present		 Incumbent
United States order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
349th		 Succeeded by
Troy Carter

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