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 from COVID-19 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]
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".[22]
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. Of the infrastructure plan proposed by Joe 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]
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
Letlow met her late husband in high school and they married in 2013.[26][9] She had two children with him.[27] Letlow addressed vaccine hesitancy among Republicans and encouraged them to get the COVID-19 vaccine, invoking her husband's death from the virus.[28]
^Letlow's husband, Luke Letlow, was elected to succeed retiring Representative Ralph Abraham, but died of COVID-19, on December 29, 2020, before taking office.[2] A special election was held on March 20, 2021, and it was won by Letlow.[3]