Louisiana Republican Julia Letlow joins Congress, narrowing Democrats' advantage

MONROE, Louisiana — Julia Letlow was sworn in Wednesday as Louisiana's first Republican congresswoman, carrying the torch for her late husband Congressman-elect Luke Letlow, who died from COVID complications in December before he could take office.

"Luke and I were a team with the goal to better our state and our country," said Letlow, who who enjoyed a landslide win in a March special election to replace our husband for the 5th District seat. "I want to thank him for paving the way for me.

"I’m here today to carry that torch forward, to be a voice for our farmers, to champion education, to help bring broadband to our rural community and to ensure our economy is thriving again."

She and Luke's children, Jeremiah, 3, and Jacqueline, 1, and the couple's parents looked on from the House balcony as Letlow took her oath from Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who saluted the children and family as they watched.

Letlow also reached out to the millions who have shared similar grief from COVID losses.

"Too many families like mine have experienced tragedy because of this pandemic," said Letlow, who earned a doctorate and was working as a University of Louisiana at Monroe senior administrator before the election. "To those families: I see you; I hear you; and most importantly, I pray with you."

She is the first Republican woman from Louisiana to serve in Congress and the first woman to represent the state in Congress since former U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu in 2015.

"I'm ready to go to work," Letlow, R-Start, said in a recent interview with USA Today Network. "I can't get there fast enough."

With Leltlow's arrival, the Democrats' whisker-thin margin in the House shrinks to 218-212, which means they can afford no more than two defections on party-line votes. That could prove consequential on legislation such as President Joe Biden's infrastructure bills that few Republicans — if any — are expected to support.

Five House seats are vacant, including three made so by House members who moved into roles in the Biden administration.

More: Louisiana Congresswoman-elect Julia Letlow on her work, tragedy, healing, children

Letlow represents Louisiana's 24-parish 5th Congressional District. Monroe and Alexandria are the population hubs of the district, but it meanders into Acadiana to take in part of Opelousas and into the Florida parishes all the way to Bogalusa.

Letlow is coming off a landslide win in the March 20 primary election, with 65% of the vote.

More: Louisiana sends Julia Letlow to Congress after husband Luke Letlow dies from COVID

Letlow was assigned seats on the House Agriculture and House Education and Labor committees after taking office.

"She'll be able to make a strong impact," Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., told USA Today Network.

Letlow said she and Luke's children will often commute with her to Washington along with a nanny who has helped care for them during the past year.

"We're still working out the logistics," she said. "But we also have a lot of support from family with both sets of grandparents."

Letlow said she isn't intimidated by the task ahead.

"I truly believe everything has prepared me for this moment," she said. "I'm confident and ready to serve. I'm up to the task."

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.

Contributing: Ledyard King, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: Louisiana Republican Julia Letlow takes seat in Congress