Julia Letlow
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Louisiana's 5th district
Assumed office
April 14, 2021[1]
Preceded byRalph Abraham[lower-alpha 1]
Personal details
Born
Julia Janelle Barnhill

(1981-03-16) March 16, 1981
Monroe, Louisiana, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2013; died 2020)​
Children2
EducationUniversity of Louisiana at Monroe (BA, MA)
University of South Florida (PhD)
WebsiteHouse website

Julia Janelle Letlow (/ˈlɛtloʊ/ LET-loh; 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

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 from COVID-19 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]

2022

Letlow won reelection outright in 2022, winning 67% of the vote against three opponents.[18]

Tenure

She was sworn in on April 14.[8] On August 12, 2022, Letlow voted against the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.[19]

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".[21]

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. Of the infrastructure plan proposed by Joe Biden, Letlow said, "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."[22]

2020 presidential election

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

Education

Letlow authored a Parent's Bill of Rights that passed the U.S. House in March 2023. The bill would give parents more oversight over what is taught in public schools. It would require school districts to make curricula public, provide parents with information on available library materials, allow parents to address school boards, require public disclosure of school budgets, and require parental consent prior to any physical or mental medical exams taking place at school.[23][24]

Personal life

Letlow met her former husband in high school and they married in 2013.[25][9] She had two children with him.[26] Letlow addressed vaccine hesitancy among Republicans and encouraged them to get the COVID-19 vaccine, invoking her husband's death from the virus.[27]

Letlow is a Presbyterian.[28]

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
Louisiana's 5th congressional district, 2022[29]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Julia Letlow (incumbent) 151,080 67.6
Democratic Oscar "Omar" Dantzler 35,149 15.7
Democratic Walter Earl Huff 19,383 8.7
Republican Allen Guillory 12,159 5.4
Republican Hunter Pullen 5,782 2.6
Total votes 223,553 100.0
Republican hold

Notes

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

References

  1. ↑ "Terms of Service for Members of the House of Representatives in the 117th Congress" (PDF). Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  2. ↑ Deslatte, Melinda (December 30, 2020). "Louisiana Congressman-elect Luke Letlow dies from COVID-19". Associated Press. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  3. ↑ Seitz-Wald, Alex (March 20, 2021). "Republican Julia Letlow wins special congressional election in Louisiana, NBC News projects". NBC News. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  4. ↑ Seitz-Wald, Alex (March 20, 2021). "Republican Julia Letlow wins special congressional election in Louisiana, NBC News projects". NBC News. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  5. ↑ Adam Levy and Ethan Cohen (March 21, 2021). "Julia Letlow makes history in Louisiana's 5th District special election while 2nd District goes to runoff". CNN. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  6. ↑ Bridges, Tyler (March 15, 2021). "Julia Letlow, picking up torch from her late husband, is favored to win congressional race". The Advocate. Georges Media. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  7. ↑ Barnhill, Julia Janelle (2011). Giving Meaning to Grief: the Role of Rituals and Stories in Coping with Sudden Family Loss (Ph.D. thesis). University of South Florida. OCLC 778367257.
  8. 1 2 Fram, Alan (April 14, 2021). "Louisiana congresswoman Julia Letlow takes office, replacing late husband". The Advocate. Associated Press. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  9. 1 2 "Barnhill – Letlow". The News-Star. Monroe, Louisiana. March 24, 2013. p. 44. Retrieved March 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  10. ↑ "Letlow named director of external affairs and strategic communications at ULM". The News-Star. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Seven candidates in the running for ULM president". The News-Star. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Luke Letlow's family talks about the congressman-elect's COVID death". The News-Star. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Julia Letlow, widow of U.S. Rep-elect Luke Letlow, to run for Congress". The News-Star. December 30, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  14. ↑ Axelrod, Tal (March 20, 2021). "Trump boosts Julia Letlow ahead of Louisiana special election". The Hill. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  15. 1 2 Pathe, Simone (March 19, 2021). "Running to replace husband who died from Covid-19, Julia Letlow hopes to bring her own experience to Congress". CNN. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  16. 1 2 "U. S. Representative – 5th Congressional District". Louisiana Secretary of State. March 20, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Louisiana Primary Election Results 2021". New York Times. March 20, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Louisiana Fifth Congressional District Election Results". The New York Times. November 8, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  19. ↑ Tran, Candy Woodall, Katherine Swartz and Kenneth. "House passes Inflation Reduction Act, sends it to Biden". USA TODAY. Retrieved August 15, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. ↑ Johnson, My Sherie (May 11, 2022). "Louisiana Congresswoman Julia Letlow fills seat on United States House Committee on Appropriations". WGNO. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  21. ↑ Thompkins, Jarmarlon (July 21, 2021). "Congresswoman Julia Letlow gives statement on ICE releases". KNOE-TV. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  22. ↑ Englander, Tyler (July 7, 2021). "Rep. Letlow talks rural broadband needs, infrastructure bill, COVID vaccine". KNOE-TV. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  23. ↑ Ballard, Mark (March 24, 2023). "Julia Letlow's Parents Bill of Rights narrowly clears the U.S. House". NOLA.com. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  24. ↑ Hilburn, Greg (March 24, 2023). "Louisiana Congresswoman Julia Letlow's Parents Bill of Rights clears House". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Family obituary for Louisiana Congressman-elect Luke Letlow, who died from COVID complications". The News-Star. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  26. ↑ Sentell, Will (January 21, 2021). "Luke Letlow's widow, Julia, files for his U.S. House seat after his death from coronavirus". The Advocate. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  27. ↑ Main, Alison; Kelly, Caroline (March 28, 2021). "'Look at my family. Use my story': Rep.-elect Julia Letlow urges Republicans to get Covid vaccine after husband's death". CNN. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  28. ↑ "Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress" (PDF). PEW Research Center. December 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  29. ↑ "2022 Official Election Results". Secretary of State of Louisiana. November 8, 2022. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  1. ↑ Luke Letlow was voted in the 2020 general election, but died before the beginning of the Congressional term.
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