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|religion=Evangelical [[Presbyterian]]}}

|religion=Evangelical [[Presbyterian]]}}

'''Luke Joshua Letlow''' (born December 6, 1979), is the incoming [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[U.S. Representative]] for [[Louisiana]]'s 5th congressional district in 2020. Prior to becoming a candidate, he served as the [[chief of staff]] to Representative [[Ralph Abraham]] from 2014 to 2020.

'''Luke Joshua Letlow''' (born December 6, 1979), is the incoming [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[U.S. Representative]] for [[Louisiana]]'s 5th congressional district, which encompasses much of the eastern portion of his state. Prior to becoming a candidate, Letlow from 2014 to 2020 was the [[chief of staff]] to his predecessor, Republican Representative [[Ralph Abraham]] Abraham had been defeated in the 2019 gubernatorial]] [[primary]] and held to a pledge not to seek more than three terms in the U.S. House. Both Abraham and Letlow reside in Richland Parish east of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]].

==Background==

==Background==

All four of Letlow’s grandparents grew up in the community of Start in Richland Parish east of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], Louisiana; they knew each other well while attending Start High School. His paternal grandparents were John M. Letlow and Mary Janet (pronounced “Jean-ETTE”) Clement Letlow. His maternal grandparents were Richard Henry “Dick” Taylor and Mary Catherine Sullivan Taylor.  

All four of Letlow’s grandparents came from community of Start in Richland Parish; they knew each other well while attending Start High School. His paternal grandparents were John M. Letlow and Mary Janet (pronounced “Jean-ETTE”) Clement Letlow. His maternal grandparents were Richard Henry “Dick” Taylor and Mary Catherine Sullivan Taylor.  

While attending Ouachita Christian High School in Monroe, Letlow was on the [[tennis]] and debate teams. While attending Louisiana Tech, he also served on the collegiate debate team. He received a TOPS scholarship and worked part-time as a shoe salesman to help pay his educational expenses.

While attending Ouachita Christian High School in Monroe, Letlow was on the [[tennis]] and debate teams. While attending Louisiana Tech, he also served on the collegiate debate team. He received a TOPS scholarship and worked part-time as a shoe salesman to help pay his educational expenses.

Letlow resides in Start, a small community in Richland Parish, where he was also reared. He attended both elementary and junior high at Start. He graduated in 1998 from Ouachita Christian High School in Monroe and in 2003 from [[Louisiana Tech University]] in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]] with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems. He is the son of Johnny Lynn Letlow and Katherine Dianne Taylor Letlow. He has two siblings, Paul J. Letlow, of Start, Louisiana, and Matt J. Letlow, of Rockwall, [[Texas]].  

Letlow also resides in Start, a small [[rural]] community in which he was reared. He attended both elementary and junior high at Start. He graduated in 1998 from Ouachita Christian High School in Monroe and in 2003 from [[Louisiana Tech University]] in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]] with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems. He is the son of Johnny Lynn Letlow and Katherine Dianne Taylor Letlow. He has two siblings, Paul J. Letlow, of Start, Louisiana, and Matt J. Letlow, of Rockwall, [[Texas]].  

On April 27, 2013, he wed the former Julia Barnhill (born 1981). She graduated in 1999 from Ouachita Christian High School. She is a graduate of the [[University of Louisiana at Monroe]] (2002) with a B.A. in Speech Communication, a masters degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe (2005) in Speech Communication, and a [[Ph.D.]] from the [[University of South Florida]] (2011) in Communication. She is the executive assistant to the president for external affairs at ULM.

On April 27, 2013, he wed the former Julia Barnhill (born 1981). She graduated in 1999a year after her husband from Ouachita Christian High School. She is a graduate of the [[University of Louisiana at Monroe]] (2002), with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication, a masters degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe (2005) in Speech Communication, and a [[Ph.D.]] from the [[University of South Florida]] (2011) in Communication. She is the executive assistant to the president for external affairs at ULM.

The Letlows have two children, Jeremiah John and Jacqueline Taylor. The couple is Evangelical [[Presbyterian]].

The Letlows have two children, Jeremiah John and Jacqueline Taylor Letlow. The couple is Evangelical [[Presbyterian]].

==Political life==

==Political life==

Letlow has been a GOP activist in Louisiana dating back to his days at Louisiana Tech University. In 2001, he was elected President of the Louisiana Tech [[College Republicans]]. In 2002, he was elected as Chairman of the Louisiana Federation of College Republicans. During the summer of 2000, he served as a congressional intern for U.S. Representative John Cooksey, M.D. While working in [[Washington, D.C.]], Letlow attended the 2000 [[Republican National Convention]] in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], where he witnessed the first nomination of [[George W. Bush]]. In 2002, he worked on Cooksey's unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. Senate; victory went to [[liberal]] Democrat [[Mary Landrieu]].

Letlow has been a GOP activist in Louisiana dating back to his days at Louisiana Tech. In 2001, he was elected president of the Louisiana Tech [[College Republicans]]. In 2002, he was elected as chairman of the Louisiana Federation of College Republicans. During the summer of 2000, he served as a congressional intern for U.S. Representative John Cooksey, M.D., also of the 5th congressional district.  While working in [[Washington, D.C.]], Letlow attended the 2000 [[Republican National Convention]] in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], where he witnessed the first nomination of [[George W. Bush]]. In 2002, he worked on Cooksey's unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. Senat, when the [[liberal]] [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Mary Landrieu]].

After graduating from Louisiana Tech, he joined the 2003 gubernatorial campaign staff of [[Bobby Jindal]]. Following Jindal’s unsuccessful bid against [[Kathleen Blanco]] in 2003, Letlow served as the political director for Jindal’s 2004 campaign for Louisiana’s 1st congressional district. In 2004, he was named district director for newly elected U.S. Representative Jindal. He attended the 2004 [[Republican National Convention]] in [[New York City]] and the 2012 conclave in Tampa, [[Florida]], as a volunteer. He was elected as a delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention in [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]. He was again elected as a delegate to the 2020 convention but did not attend because the proceedings were virtual because of the [[coronavirus]] pandemic.

After graduating from Louisiana Tech, he joined the 2003 gubernatorial campaign staff of [[Bobby Jindal]]. Following Jindal’s unsuccessful bid against [[Kathleen Blanco]] in 2003, Letlow served as the political director for Jindal’s 2004 campaign for Louisiana’s 1st congressional district. In 2004, he was named district director for newly elected U.S. Representative Jindal. He attended the 2004 [[Republican National Convention]] in [[New York City]] and the 2012 conclave in Tampa, [[Florida]], as a volunteer. He was elected as a delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention in [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]. He was again elected as a delegate to the 2020 convention but did not attend because the proceedings were virtual because of the [[coronavirus]] pandemic.