Louisiana's 5th congressional district special election

← 2020 March 20, 2021 2022 →
Louisiana's 5th congressional district
Turnout	21.4%[1]
Candidate Julia Letlow Sandra Christophe Chad Conerly Party Republican Democratic Republican Popular vote 67,203 28,255 5,497 Percentage 64.86% 27.27% 5.31%
Parish results Letlow:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Christophe:     40–50%
U.S. Representative before election Vacant Elected U.S. Representative Julia Letlow Republican

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The2021 Louisiana's 5th congressional district special election was held on March 20, 2021. It was triggered by the death ofRepublican congressman-electLuke Letlow on December 29, 2020, who died from a heart attack while being treated forCOVID-19.^[2]

When congressional seats inLouisiana become vacant, theGovernor may call a special election at any time. The special election to fillLouisiana's 5th congressional district took place on March 20, 2021, as stated byGovernorJohn Bel Edwards's office.^[3] Luke Letlow's widow,Julia Letlow, won the election with more than 64 percent of the vote.

It was one of two special elections to the House of Representatives held in Louisiana, along with theelection to the 2nd district, which was held on the same day.

Louisiana's 5th congressional district includes all or part ofAvoyelles,Caldwell,Catahoula,Concordia,East Carroll,East Feliciana,Franklin,Jackson,La SalleLincoln,Madison,Morehouse,Rapides,Richland,St. Helena,St. Landry,Tangipahoa,Tensas,Washington,West Carroll,West Feliciana, andWinn parishes. Traditionally conservative, the district has been considered asafe seat for Republicans sinceRodney Alexander changed his party affiliation in 2004.^[4][5] Although the Democratic Party had an enrollment advantage of 26,719 at the time of the2020 presidential election,Donald Trump won over 64 percent of the district's vote.^[6]

In February 2020,Ralph Abraham, who had been serving as the district's U.S. Representative since 2015, announced that he would not run for re-election.^[7] Abraham's former chief of staff,Luke Letlow, announced his candidacy in the congressional election shortly thereafter, with Abraham publicly endorsing him.^[8] Letlow was an outspoken supporter of PresidentDonald Trump, and he publicly praised his leadership during theCOVID-19 pandemic.^[9]

In thejungle primary on November 3, Letlow won the most votes, but he was unable to secure a majority, triggering arunoff election against runner-upLance Harris.^[10][11] Letlow defeated Harris in the runoff election on December 5, with 62 percent of the vote.^[12] Shortly after his victory in the runoff, Letlow tested positive forCOVID-19, and he was hospitalized the following day.^[13][14] Letlow's condition worsened, and he was moved to the intensive care unit where he died days later on December 29, less than a week before he was scheduled to be sworn into office.^[15][16]

• Sandra "Candy" Christophe, social worker and candidate for this seat in2020^[17][18]

• Jessica Honsinger Hollister, actress^[19]

• Chad Conerly, finance professional^[20]
• Allen Guillory, candidate for this seat in2020^[21]
• Robert Lansden, attorney^[20]
• Julia Letlow, administrative executive assistant atUniversity of Louisiana at Monroe and widow of U.S. representative-electLuke Letlow^[17][22]
• Jaycee Magnuson^[20]
• Horace Melton III^[20]
• Richard H. Pannell^[20]
• Sancha Smith, political organizer^[20]
• Errol Victor Sr., pastor^[20]

• Ralph Abraham, former U.S. Representative and candidate forGovernor of Louisiana in2019^[3]
• Stewart Cathey, state senator^[23][22](endorsed Julia Letlow)^[24][22]
• Michael Echols, state representative^[17][22]
• Lance Harris, state representative and candidate for this seat in 2020^[25]
• Mike Johnson, state representative^[22]
• Scotty Robinson,Ouachita Parish Police Juror and candidate for this seat in 2020^[17][22]

• Jim Davis^[20]
• M. V. "Vinny" Mendoza, perennial candidate^[20]

• List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives

Official campaign websites

• Sandra "Candy" Christophe (D) for CongressArchived April 17, 2020, at theWayback Machine
• Chad Conerly (R) for CongressArchived January 26, 2021, at theWayback Machine
• Robert Lansden (R) for Congress
• Julia Letlow (R) for Congress
• Jaycee Magnuson (R) for Congress
• M. V. "Vinny" Mendoza (I) for Congress
• Sancha Smith (R) for Congress
• Errol Victor Sr. (R) for CongressArchived February 15, 2021, at theWayback Machine

• 2021 United States House of Representatives special elections
• United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana
• 2021 Louisiana elections
• Louisiana special elections
• March 2021 in the United States

• Accuracy disputes from March 2022
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use mdy dates from January 2021
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