Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy was defeated in Saturday’s GOP primary, falling short of a runoff after years of backlash from supporters of President Trump over Cassidy’s vote to convict Trump following the January 6 Capitol attack. Cassidy finished behind U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow and Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming, who will now face each other in a June 27 runoff that is expected to decide the state’s next senator in heavily Republican Louisiana.
The result highlighted Trump’s continued dominance within the Republican Party as he continues targeting Republicans viewed as disloyal. Cassidy was one of seven GOP senators who voted to convict Trump during his 2021 impeachment trial tied to the Capitol riot. While several Republicans who broke with Trump later stepped away from reelection campaigns, Cassidy sought a third term and significantly outspent his opponents.
The President heavily criticized Cassidy throughout the race and renewed his attacks on election day, calling him “a disloyal disaster” and “a terrible guy” on social media. After the loss, Cassidy appeared to answer indirectly, telling supporters, “Insults only bother me if they come from somebody of character and integrity.” He also defended his stance by saying, “Our country is not about one individual. It is about the welfare of all Americans, and it is about the Constitution.”
Letlow, elected to Congress in 2021 after winning a special election following the death of her husband from COVID-19 complications, built much of her campaign around loyalty to Trump and conservative voters. Fleming, a former congressman and Trump administration official, also campaigned as a strong MAGA conservative.
Trump praised Letlow, posting on Truth Social: “Congratulations to Congresswoman Julia Letlow on a fantastic race, beating an Incumbent Senator by Record Setting Numbers. This is the first time in History that a sitting Senator has lost by such large numbers in a Primary, unable to even go forward. Julia Letlow is a fantastic person and, after taking care of some additional business, will make a brilliant Senator for the Great People of Louisiana, a State that I love, helped make prosperous with my Energy Policies and everything else, and won six times in a row, including Primaries. Julia Letlow is a spectacular person, and will never let you down!”
Letlow embraced Trump’s endorsement during her victory speech, thanking “the best president this country has ever had, President Donald Trump.” She later argued Cassidy’s impeachment vote showed he had “turned his back on Louisiana voters.” Trump celebrated the outcome online, writing, “That’s what you get by voting to impeach an innocent man.”
The Louisiana contest is the latest example of Trump-backed efforts to unseat Republicans who opposed him. The primary also unfolded amid legal disputes over Louisiana election maps after a recent Supreme Court decision affecting parts of the Voting Rights Act. While the Senate race proceeded as scheduled, state officials delayed U.S. House primaries to redraw congressional districts, prompting legal challenges from civil rights groups.
Editorial credit: Philip Yabut / Shuttertock.com
