Julia Letlow
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Contents
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
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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 of complications from COVID-19 infection 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]
Tenure
She was sworn in on April 14.[8] On August 12, 2022, Letlow voted against the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.[18]
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".[20]
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. KNOE wrote that Letlow still did not commit to supporting the infrastructure plan proposed by Joe Biden, with Letlow arguing that "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."[21]
2020 presidential election
Letlow said she would have joined the majority of Republican representatives in objecting the results of the 2020 presidential election in Congress, had she been in office at the time.[15]
Personal life
Letlow met her former husband in high school and they married in 2013.[22][9] She had two children with him.[23] Letlow addressed vaccine hesitancy among Republicans and encouraged them to get the COVID-19 vaccine, invoking her husband's death from the virus.[24]
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 |
Notes
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References
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External links
- Representative Julia Letlow official U.S. House website
- Representative Julia Letlow Campaign website
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Profile at Project Vote Smart
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at The Library of Congress
- Julia Letlow at the Internet Movie DatabaseLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Appearances on C-SPAN
United States House of Representatives | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 5th congressional district 2021–present |
Incumbent |
United States order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
Preceded by | United States representatives by seniority 349th |
Succeeded by Troy Carter |
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- Pages with reference errors
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- 1981 births
- 21st-century American politicians
- 21st-century American women politicians
- American academic administrators
- Female members of the United States House of Representatives
- Living people
- Politicians from Monroe, Louisiana
- Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana
- University of Louisiana at Monroe alumni
- University of South Florida alumni
- Women academic administrators
- Women in Louisiana politics