Cassidy swipes – Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, facing the end of his term, used a concession speech late Saturday to take pointed swipes at President Donald Trump after Cassidy’s preferred slate fell short in the state’s GOP primary and Cassidy lost his own seat.
When the call came in that Bill Cassidy would finish third in Louisiana’s GOP primary, the Republican senator didn’t just talk about his own next steps. He turned to democracy, casting his remarks as a contrast with the kind of grievances he implied President Donald Trump has embraced.
“When you participate in democracy. sometimes it doesn’t turn out the way you want it to. but you don’t pout. you don’t whine. you don’t claim the election was stolen. ” Cassidy told supporters. prompting strong applause.. He followed that with a line aimed at how defeated incumbents should respond.. “You don’t manufacture some excuse – you thank the voters for the privilege of representing the state or the country for as long as you’ve had that privilege. and that’s what I’m doing right now.”
Cassidy also pushed back on the personal attacks that come with national politics. saying. “I’m also asked whether I’m bothered by being attacked on the internet.. Insults only bother me if they come from someone with character and integrity. and I find that people with character and integrity don’t spend their time attacking people on the internet.” Later. he broadened his message beyond his own campaign: “Our country is not about one individual.. It is about the welfare of all Americans and it is about our Constitution. and if someone doesn’t understand that and attempts to control others through using the levers of power. they’re about serving themselves.. They’re not about serving us, and that person is not qualified to be a leader.”
The concession lands after Louisiana’s primary shifted in a way Cassidy had tried to avoid.. Polling had pointed to a close race.. With 99 percent of the votes counted, Letlow led with 44.8 percent, while Fleming took 28.3 percent.. Cassidy finished behind them with 24.8 percent.. Mark Spencer placed fourth with 2.1 percent.
Trump had backed Cassidy’s challenger, Representative Julia Letlow, who now moves to a primary runoff against state Treasurer John Fleming. After the results, Trump reacted by saying it was “nice to see” the incumbent lose and declaring Cassidy’s political career effectively over.
In her post. Letlow thanked Trump as “the best president this country has ever had. ” and said voters sent “a clear message” that they want an “America First” candidate who will not “turn her back on Louisiana voters.” She also wrote. “Louisiana made it clear tonight: we are ready for strong conservative leadership that will stand with President Trump and never waver. ” on X.
The tension in Cassidy’s speech tracks directly with the political math behind his defeat: the president-backed challenger surged to first place. Cassidy landed third. and in his remarks he repeatedly rejected the idea of “pout[ing]” or claiming an election was “stolen. ” while asserting the country is “not about one individual.”
Cassidy’s loss comes as the Republican Party continues to wrestle with the fallout from Trump’s impeachment.. Trump’s second impeachment trial resulted in 57 senators voting to convict him. short of the 60 votes needed for a guilty verdict.. But that total was higher than anticipated because seven Republicans joined Democrats and an Independent.. Many of those Republicans are no longer in the Senate. with Cassidy marking the fifth confirmed exit. and it was not certain that the remaining two would stay safe.
Five Republican senators named among those who voted to convict did not seek reelection when their terms ended. including Richard Burr of North Carolina. Patrick Toomey of Pennsylvania. Ben Sasse of Nebraska. and Cassidy himself. with Mitt Romney of Utah also among those listed.. The other Republican senators listed as voting to convict included Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. who were described as active.
Those senators who voted to convict included: Bill Cassidy of Louisiana (active. but departing); Susan Collins of Maine (active); Lisa Murkowski of Alaska (active); Richard Burr of North Carolina (did not seek reelection in 2022); Patrick Toomey of Pennsylvania (did not seek reelection in 2022); Ben Sasse of Nebraska (exited Senate in 2023); and Mitt Romney of Utah (did not seek reelection in 2024).
Bill Cassidy Donald Trump Louisiana GOP primary Julia Letlow John Fleming primary runoff Susan Collins Lisa Murkowski impeachment trial America First