Trump-Backed Letlow Leads Louisiana Senate Primary; Cassidy Falls to Third

Louisiana Republicans delivered a clear rebuke to Sen. Bill Cassidy on Saturday, denying the two-term incumbent enough votes to advance from the primary for his U.S. Senate seat. Cassidy finished third with roughly 25 percent of the vote, behind Rep. Julia Letlow at 45 percent and state Treasurer John Fleming at 28 percent. With no candidate reaching a majority, Letlow and Fleming will meet in a June 27 runoff.

The outcome follows years of tension between Cassidy and President Donald Trump. Cassidy was one of seven Senate Republicans who voted to convict Trump during the 2021 impeachment trial tied to the January 6 Capitol riot. Trump responded by endorsing Letlow in January and repeatedly criticizing Cassidy on social media. On the morning of the primary, Trump called the senator a disloyal disaster and a terrible guy who turned against him after campaigning as an ally. Trump added that Cassidy was bad for Louisiana and deserved to be clobbered.

Cassidy had tried to repair the relationship in recent months, highlighting areas where he worked with the administration on legislation. He also noted in interviews that his impeachment vote might hurt him politically but stressed his record of advancing conservative priorities. In his concession remarks, he avoided direct confrontation but stated that the country is not about one individual and that loyalty belongs to the Constitution and the people of Louisiana rather than any single leader.

The primary results reflect broader patterns within the Republican electorate. Trump has succeeded in targeting several lawmakers who broke with him on key votes, and Cassidy joins a list of figures who faced primary challenges after supporting impeachment. Letlow, who entered Congress after winning a special election, positioned her campaign around alignment with Trump priorities and criticism of Cassidy's partnerships with Democrats on certain issues. Fleming, a former Trump administration official, also drew support from voters seeking stronger loyalty to the president's agenda.

Voter turnout and spending patterns underscored the race's importance. Cassidy outspent his opponents significantly yet could not overcome the damage from his 2021 vote. The state's unusual primary system, which advances the top two candidates regardless of party, now sets up a contest between two Trump-aligned figures for the nomination. The winner will face a Democratic opponent in November.

This episode illustrates how Republican voters continue to enforce accountability on issues of perceived disloyalty. Cassidy's defeat comes despite his efforts to frame the contest around experience and bipartisanship. Instead, the results suggest that many in the Louisiana GOP prioritize consistency with the president who helped reshape the party in recent years. The runoff between Letlow and Fleming will test whether that preference holds through the next round of voting.