Changes

==Political life==

==Political life==

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. Senate, when the [[liberal]] [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Mary Landrieu]] was re-elected.

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 and driver for U.S. Representative [[John Cooksey]], 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. Senate, when the [[liberal]] [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Mary Landrieu]] was re-elected.

After graduating from Louisiana Tech, he joined the 2003 gubernatorial campaign staff of Republican [[Bobby Jindal]]. Following Jindal’s unsuccessful bid against Democrat [[Kathleen Blanco]] in 2003, Letlow served as the political director for Jindal’s successful 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 at the time of the [[coronavirus]] pandemic.

After graduating from Louisiana Tech, he joined the 2003 gubernatorial campaign staff of Republican [[Bobby Jindal]]. Following Jindal’s unsuccessful bid against Democrat [[Kathleen Blanco]] in 2003, Letlow served as the political director for Jindal’s successful 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 at the time of the [[coronavirus]] pandemic.

Following Letlow's death, many [[liberal bigotry|bigoted leftists]] stormed social media outlets including [[Twitter]] to mock and falsely blame him for supposedly not taking the coronavirus seriously enough.<ref>[https://townhall.com/tipsheet/juliorosas/2020/12/30/vox-journalist-mocks-the-death-of-republican-congressmanelect-from-covid19-n2582296 Vox Reporter Backpedals His Mocking of Republican Rep-Elect Death from COVID After Twitter Beatdown]</ref> However, Letlow had frequently wore a mask in public and largely took precautions.<ref>https://twitter.com/ErinGaetz/status/1344149863748038656</ref>

Following Letlow's death, many [[liberal bigotry|bigoted leftists]] stormed social media outlets including [[Twitter]] to mock and falsely blame him for supposedly not taking the coronavirus seriously enough.<ref>[https://townhall.com/tipsheet/juliorosas/2020/12/30/vox-journalist-mocks-the-death-of-republican-congressmanelect-from-covid19-n2582296 Vox Reporter Backpedals His Mocking of Republican Rep-Elect Death from COVID After Twitter Beatdown]</ref> However, Letlow had frequently wore a mask in public and largely took precautions.<ref>https://twitter.com/ErinGaetz/status/1344149863748038656</ref>

Memorial services for Letlow were held on January 2, 2021, at the North Monroe Baptist Church, less than a day before he was to have been sworn into office. His mentor Ralph Abraham, whom Letlow was to have succeeded, said that Letlow had a deep love for his family, state and the 5th Congressional District. "He knew the heart and soul of the (5th Congressional District) and Louisiana. He cared about nothing but others," Abraham said during the service.<ref name=memorialservice>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2021/01/02/louisiana-congressman-elect-luke-letlow-remembered-devoted-family-man-coronavirus/4112376001/|title=Congressman-elect Luke Letlow remembered for devotion to family, public|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|date=January 2, 2021|author=Greg Hilburn|accessdate=January 3, 2021}}</ref>

Memorial services for Letlow were held on January 2, 2021, at the North Monroe Baptist Church, less than a day before he was to have been sworn into office. His mentor Ralph Abraham, whom Letlow was to have succeeded, said that Letlow had a deep love for his family, state and the 5th Congressional District. "He knew the heart and soul of the (5th Congressional District) and Louisiana. He cared about nothing but others," Abraham said during the service.<ref name=memorialservice>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2021/01/02/louisiana-congressman-elect-luke-letlow-remembered-devoted-family-man-coronavirus/4112376001/|title=Congressman-elect Luke Letlow remembered for devotion to family, public|publisher=''[[Monroe News Star]]''|date=January 2, 2021|author=Greg Hilburn|accessdate=January 3, 2021}}</ref>

Mrs. Letlow released this statement on her husband's passing:

Mrs. Letlow released this statement on her husband's passing:

*{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/politics/...

*{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/politics/...

|title=Julia Letlow, widow of U.S. Rep-elect Luke Letlow, to run for 5th congressional seat|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|date=January 14, 2021}}</ref> Political writer [[John Gizzi]] quoted a source in the 5th district who correctly predicted that Mrs. Letlow would be an easy winner of the race.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsmax.com/john-gizzi/luke-letlow-julie-letlow/2021/01/11/id/1005047/|title=Widow of Late Rep.-Elect Letlow Likely To Seek His Seat|author=[[John Gizzi]]|publisher=Newsmax.com|date=January 11, 2021|accessdate=January 14, 2021}}</ref>  Defeated runoff candidate Lance Harris did not file a second candidacy. Ralph Abraham said that it is unlikely that he will contest the seat from which he retired on January 3.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2021/01/04/wife-late-congressman-elect-luke-letlow-considers-running-his-seat/4124871001/|title=Wife of late Congressman-elect Luke Letlow considers running for vacant seat|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=January 4, 2021|author=Greg Hilburn|accessdate=January 5, 2021}}</ref>

|title=Julia Letlow, widow of U.S. Rep-elect Luke Letlow, to run for 5th congressional seat|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|date=January 14, 2021}}</ref> Political writer [[John Gizzi]] quoted a source in the 5th district who correctly predicted that Mrs. Letlow would be an easy winner of the race.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsmax.com/john-gizzi/luke-letlow-julie-letlow/2021/01/11/id/1005047/|title=Widow of Late Rep.-Elect Letlow Likely To Seek His Seat|author=[[John Gizzi]]|publisher=Newsmax.com|date=January 11, 2021|accessdate=January 14, 2021}}</ref>  Defeated runoff candidate Lance Harris did not file a second candidacy. Ralph Abraham said that it is unlikely that he will contest the seat from which he retired on January 3.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2021/01/04/wife-late-congressman-elect-luke-letlow-considers-running-his-seat/4124871001/|title=Wife of late Congressman-elect Luke Letlow considers running for vacant seat|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=January 4, 2021|author=Greg Hilburn|accessdate=January 5, 2021}}</ref>

==External links==

==External links==