Rep. Julia Letlow runs for reelection in 5th District that now includes Baton Rouge, LSU

Louisiana's only woman in Congress, Republican U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, qualified for reelection at the State Archives in Baton Rouge.

Letlow is the state's only incumbent member of the House to qualify in person rather than by proxy this week, but she has a good reason.

Her 5th Congressional District boundaries underwent a dramatic shift under redistricting, shedding population hubs of Alexandria and much of Monroe while taking in much of Baton Rouge and the capital region, including LSU's main campus.

"I've already been buying purple and gold," Letlow said of LSU's colors in an interview with USA Today Network after qualifying.

She continues to represent a smaller part of Ouachita, her home parish, the Florida parishes and all of rural northeastern Louisiana, which is dominated by agriculture interests, but the 5th District now takes in 42% of what had been the 6th District with Ascension, East Baton Rouge and Livingston parishes.

"Every day I'm meeting with new communities and constituents to listen to their concerns so I can be a better champion for them in Congress and deliver real results," said Letlow, who is seeking a third term.

She said among the top capital region concerns are flood control and crime.

But she also said there are common priorities across the district like education and infrastructure and emphasized her committment to agriculture.

Letlow landed a key assignment during her current term on the Appropriations Committee, which controls the country's purse strings.

Qualifying for the Nov. 5 election continues through Friday.

More: Rep. Julia Letlow, Congress honor Luke Letlow, who died of COVID after being elected to House

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

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Rep. Julia Letlow runs for reelection in district that now includes LSU