Letlow and Fleming to face off in Louisiana GOP runoff after Cassidy loses renomination

Rep. Julia Letlow, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, and Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming advanced to a Republican runoff after topping U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy in the state’s GOP primary, The Associated Press reported Saturday. With most results tallied, Letlow had about 45% of the vote, Fleming about 28% and Cassidy just under 25%, the AP said. Because no candidate topped 50%, Letlow and Fleming will meet in a runoff next month.

The AP noted Cassidy is the first elected Republican senator to lose renomination since Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana in 2012. The outcome was viewed as another test of Trump’s sway over GOP voters in the deeply red state he carried by 22 points in 2024.

Trump attacked Cassidy on social media, calling him “a disloyal disaster” and “a sleazebag,” and later wrote that “it’s nice to see that his political career is OVER!” The posts were published on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Cassidy, who voted to convict Trump in the 2021 impeachment trial, conceded and told supporters that “when you participate in democracy, sometimes it doesn’t turn out the way you want it to.” In his remarks, Cassidy said candidates should thank voters rather than “pout” or “claim the election was stolen,” according to his concession speech.

Letlow thanked Trump in a post on X, saying “Louisiana made it clear tonight: we are ready for strong conservative leadership that will stand with President Trump and never waver,” the AP reported. Letlow told Fox News Digital that Trump encouraged her to run and gave her his endorsement before she entered the race. Fleming, who served in the Trump administration, told Fox News Digital he was the most conservative candidate and that “they see me clearly MAGA,” the AP said. The winner of the Republican runoff is expected to be the favorite in the general election in the GOP-leaning state, the AP added.

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