Letlow wins GOP nod in Louisiana Senate race
by Caroline Vakil - 06/27/26 9:45 PM ET
Rep. Julia Letlow (R-La.), buoyed by President Trump’s endorsement, is projected to defeat Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming in the GOP runoff for Sen. Bill Cassidy’s (R-La.) seat, according to Decision Desk HQ.
Letlow and Fleming were forced into a runoff after the May 16 primary, which included Cassidy and businessman Mark Spencer, because no single candidate received more than half of the vote outright.
Letlow received nearly half of the vote – 45 percent – during the May primary, followed by Fleming at 29 percent.
“I knew it was going to be a tough race, and it was,” Letlow told supporters after claiming victory. “It was filled with trials, but I’m so proud to say that I am truly battle tested for November 3rd, and we are going to go win this thing.”
Letlow has served in Congress since 2021 when she filled out the remainder of her late husband Rep. Luke Letlow’s (R-La.) term in the House. Luke Letlow died from COVID-19 complications.
Fleming called Letlow to concede the race, urging his supporters to set their sights on helping Republicans win in November.
“The contest for this primary is over, and now it’s onto the general election,” he told the crowd at his campaign watch party. “We want to, again, continue to make America strong by sending the best of the best there and fighting for the freedoms, the things that our founding fathers prepared us for, and it’s up to us to carry that on for the future.”
Cassidy drew Trump’s ire for being one of seven Senate Republicans to vote to convict the president in 2021, making him a prime target to be primaried. Cassidy also evaded saying whether he would back Trump specifically during the 2024 GOP presidential primary.
Trump preemptively endorsed the congresswoman in January, saying in a post on his Truth Social “Should she decide to enter this Race, Julia Letlow has my Complete and Total Endorsement.” She made her run official later that month.
The president congratulated Letlow in a Truth Social post on Saturday night, calling the outcome “great news.”
“Julia Letlow WON in Louisiana, beating conclusively a very strong and smart opponent. Congratulations to Julia. She will be a truly GREAT Senator!” Trump wrote.
Cassidy sought to align himself with Trump earlier on, with his campaign pointing out to his voting record that showed him overwhelming backing the president’s priorities during his first term.
The Louisiana Republican, who chairs the Senate Health Committee, also voted to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services Secretary – a critical vote for the Trump administration despite his apprehension about the former presidential contender’s views on issues like vaccines.
Cassidy’s bets to try to play nice with Trump and the White House, however, were not enough to stop the president from endorsing against him.
Added to the GOP senator’s problems, the state also changed the structure of some primaries, including the Senate, from open primaries to closed primaries.
The Bayou State originally held what are sometimes called “jungle primaries” where all candidates running for the same office, regardless of party, are listed on the same ballot. The race, held on Election Day, would only advance to a runoff if a candidate didn’t outright win more than half of the vote.
But when the state switched to closed primaries in certain elections, that imperiled the more moderate Cassidy who now had to win over GOP primary voters before advancing to the general election.
Given Louisiana’s reliably red leanings, Letlow is expected to win the general election in November.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5943183-louisiana-gop-senate-runoff/
