Trump-endorsed Rep. Julia Letlow launches Republican primary bid against Sen. Bill Cassidy in Louisiana
Rep. Julia Letlow announced a Trump-endorsed 2026 Republican primary challenge to Sen. Bill Cassidy in Louisiana, citing conservative fidelity and criticizing Cassidy's past votes publicly.
Overview
Rep. Julia Letlow, backed publicly by President Trump, announced a Republican primary bid to unseat two-term Sen. Bill Cassidy in Louisiana's 2026 Senate race.
Trump urged Letlow to run and offered a 'complete and total' endorsement after hearing she considered entering the race, elevating intra-party pressure on Cassidy.
Cassidy, HELP committee chair and a two-term incumbent, previously voted to convict Trump in 2021 but later cooperated on health nominees and administration priorities.
Louisiana's 2024 switch to closed primaries changes runoff dynamics: April 18 primary requires a majority to avoid a May runoff between the top two vote-getters.
State Treasurer John Fleming is also running; NRSC has not aggressively intervened, reflecting tension between incumbent protection and deference to Trump's influence among GOP voters.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the contest as a Trump-driven intra-party showdown, emphasizing the president's endorsement and Cassidy's 2021 vote to convict while foregrounding GOP institutional tensions. Through selective emphasis — e.g., phrases like 'final failure' and 'firebrand' and repeated mention of NRSC opposition — coverage narrows debate to loyalty and political risk.
Sources (15)
FAQ
Trump endorsed Letlow due to Cassidy's vote to convict him in the 2021 impeachment trial over January 6 and his past criticisms of Trump.
Letlow entered Congress in a 2021 special election after her husband, Rep.-elect Luke Letlow, died of COVID-19 before taking office; she has been a strong ally of Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise.
Louisiana switched to closed party primaries in 2024; the April 18 primary requires a majority to win, otherwise a May runoff between the top two vote-getters.
State Treasurer John Fleming is running; other potential challengers include Kathy Seiden (R) and Sammy Wyatt (R).
Senate GOP leadership, including Majority Leader John Thune, has backed Cassidy and campaigned with him, creating tension with Trump's endorsement of Letlow.
History
8 sources