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Julia Letlow

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Julia Letlow
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives
fromLouisiana's5thdistrict
Incumbent
Assumed office
April 14, 2021[1]
Preceded byRalph Abraham[a]
Personal details
Born
Julia Janelle Barnhill

(1981-03-16)March 16, 1981(age 43)
Monroe, Louisiana,U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
​
​
(m.2013;died2020)​
Children2
EducationUniversity of Louisiana at Monroe(BA,MA)
University of South Florida(PhD)
WebsiteHouse website

Julia Janelle Letlow(/ˈlɛtloʊ/LET-loh;néeBarnhill;born March 16, 1981) is an American politician and academic administrator serving as theU.S. representativeforLouisiana's 5th congressional districtsince 2021.[4]Letlow is the firstRepublicanwoman to represent Louisiana in the House.[5]

Early life and education

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Letlow was born Julia Janelle Barnhill on March 16, 1981, inMonroe, Louisiana.She graduated fromOuachita Christian High School.[6]She earned herBachelor of ArtsandMaster of Artsin speech communications from theUniversity of Louisiana at Monroe,followed by aDoctor of Philosophyin communications from theUniversity of South Floridain 2012. Her doctoral advisor was Jane Jorgenson. Letlow's dissertation was titledGiving 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

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

U.S. House of Representatives

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Elections

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2021 special

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

Letlow's husband,Luke Letlow,was elected to theUnited States House of RepresentativesforLouisiana's 5th congressional districtin the2020 elections,but died fromCOVID-19in December 2020, before taking office.[12]Julia decided to run in thespecial electionfor the vacant seat in January 2021.[13]During her campaign, she secured a number of high-profile endorsements, including one from former PresidentDonald 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 thenonpartisan blanket primary,winning the election outright and avoiding a runoff. Letlow is the first Republican woman elected to Congress from Louisiana.[16][17]

2022

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Main article:2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana § District 5

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

Tenure

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

Committee assignments

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Caucus memberships

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Political positions

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Immigration

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Letlow released a statement criticizing theBiden administrationfor "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".[22]

Infrastructure

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In July 2021, Letlow toldKNOE-TVthat 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 byJoe 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."[23]

2020 presidential election

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

Education

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Letlow with Suzanne Youngkin

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.[24][25]

Personal life

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Letlow met her late husband in high school and they married in 2013.[26][9]She had two children with him.[27]Letlow addressedvaccine hesitancyamong Republicans and encouraged them to get theCOVID-19 vaccine,invoking her husband's death from the virus.[28]

Letlow is aPresbyterian.[29]

Electoral history

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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
Republicanhold
Louisiana's 5th congressional district, 2022[30]
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
Republicanhold

Notes

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  1. ^Letlow's husband,Luke Letlow,was elected to succeed retiring Representative Ralph Abraham, but died ofCOVID-19,on December 29, 2020, before taking office.[2]Aspecial electionwas held on March 20, 2021, and it was won by Letlow.[3]

References

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  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.RetrievedApril 16,2021.
  2. ^Deslatte, Melinda (December 30, 2020)."Louisiana Congressman-elect Luke Letlow dies from COVID-19".Associated Press.RetrievedJanuary 2,2021.
  3. ^Seitz-Wald, Alex (March 20, 2021)."Republican Julia Letlow wins special congressional election in Louisiana, NBC News projects".NBC News.RetrievedMarch 21,2021.
  4. ^Seitz-Wald, Alex (March 20, 2021)."Republican Julia Letlow wins special congressional election in Louisiana, NBC News projects".NBC News.RetrievedMarch 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.RetrievedMarch 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.RetrievedMarch 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.OCLC778367257.
  8. ^abFram, Alan (April 14, 2021)."Louisiana congresswoman Julia Letlow takes office, replacing late husband".The Advocate.Associated Press.RetrievedApril 16,2021.
  9. ^ab"Barnhill – Letlow".The News-Star.Monroe, Louisiana.March 24, 2013. p. 44.RetrievedMarch 21,2021– viaNewspapers.comOpen access icon.
  10. ^"Letlow named director of external affairs and strategic communications at ULM".The News-Star.RetrievedJanuary 15,2021.
  11. ^"Seven candidates in the running for ULM president".The News-Star.RetrievedJanuary 15,2021.
  12. ^"Luke Letlow's family talks about the congressman-elect's COVID death".The News-Star.RetrievedJanuary 15,2021.
  13. ^"Julia Letlow, widow of U.S. Rep-elect Luke Letlow, to run for Congress".The News-Star.December 30, 2020.RetrievedJanuary 15,2021.
  14. ^Axelrod, Tal (March 20, 2021)."Trump boosts Julia Letlow ahead of Louisiana special election".The Hill.RetrievedMarch 31,2021.
  15. ^abPathe, Simone (March 19, 2021)."Running to replace husband who died from Covid-19, Julia Letlow hopes to bring her own experience to Congress".CNN.RetrievedMarch 19,2021.
  16. ^ab"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.RetrievedOctober 26,2023.
  19. ^Tran, Candy Woodall, Katherine Swartz and Kenneth."House passes Inflation Reduction Act, sends it to Biden".USA TODAY.RetrievedAugust 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.RetrievedMay 12,2022.
  21. ^"About Us".www.ccainstitute.org.
  22. ^Thompkins, Jarmarlon (July 21, 2021)."Congresswoman Julia Letlow gives statement on ICE releases".KNOE-TV.RetrievedAugust 3,2021.
  23. ^Englander, Tyler (July 7, 2021)."Rep. Letlow talks rural broadband needs, infrastructure bill, COVID vaccine".KNOE-TV.RetrievedAugust 3,2021.
  24. ^Ballard, Mark (March 24, 2023)."Julia Letlow's Parents Bill of Rights narrowly clears the U.S. House".NOLA.com.RetrievedOctober 26,2023.
  25. ^Hilburn, Greg (March 24, 2023)."Louisiana Congresswoman Julia Letlow's Parents Bill of Rights clears House".The Daily Advertiser.RetrievedOctober 26,2023.
  26. ^"Family obituary for Louisiana Congressman-elect Luke Letlow, who died from COVID complications".The News-Star.RetrievedJanuary 29,2021.
  27. ^Sentell, Will (January 21, 2021)."Luke Letlow's widow, Julia, files for his U.S. House seat after his death from coronavirus".The Advocate.RetrievedJanuary 29,2021.
  28. ^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.RetrievedMarch 29,2021.
  29. ^"Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress"(PDF).PEW Research Center. December 2022.RetrievedMarch 1,2023.
  30. ^"2022 Official Election Results".Secretary of State of Louisiana.November 8, 2022.RetrievedMay 31,2023.
[edit]
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of theU.S. House of Representatives
fromLouisiana's 5th congressional district
2021–present 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence(ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
341st 		Succeeded by
  1. ^Luke Letlowwas voted in the 2020 general election, but died before the beginning of the Congressional term.
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