MONROE, La. – The widow of a Republican representative-elect who died of COVID-19 announced on Thursday she will run to fill his seat.
Julia Letlow said she will run to represent Lousiana’s fifth district, a month after her husband Rep.-elect Luke Letlow died of COVID-19 before being sworn in, Axios reports.
“My motivation is the passion Luke and I both shared: to better this region that we called home and to leave it a better place for our children and future generations,” Letlow said in her statement.
The congressional seat became initially available to replace Rep. Ralph Abraham, whom the Rep.-elect worked for as his chief of staff.
The 41-year-old won the seat after a Dec. 5 run-off and tested positive for the coronavirus less than two weeks later.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has called for a special election on March 20 to fill the seat.
