Sen. Bill Cassidy lost the Louisiana Republican Senate primary, with U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow and state treasurer John Fleming advancing to a June 27 runoff. Cassidy’s defeat came amid a high-stakes feud with President Donald Trump over his vote to convict Trump
Sen.. Bill Cassidy’s re-election hopes collapsed in Louisiana’s Republican Senate primary on Saturday night. ending a campaign that quickly turned into a test of loyalty to President Donald Trump.. Cassidy conceded after results showed that his opponents, U.S.. Rep.. Julia Letlow and state treasurer John Fleming, will move on to a runoff election on June 27.
Letlow led the field with 44.48% of the vote, followed by Fleming at 28.3%. Cassidy finished third with 24.8%. Trump had thrown support behind Letlow, while Cassidy had drawn Trump’s ire after voting to convict him following the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol Riot.
In his concession speech. Cassidy referenced Trump’s false claims about the 2020 election. saying he’d been able to “participate in democracy” even when outcomes “don’t turn out the way you want it to. ” adding that supporters should not “pout. ” “whine. ” or “claim the election was stolen.” He told the audience. “You don’t find a reason why 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.”
Trump struck back after the results came out. going after Cassidy for voting to impeach him over what he called “preposterous charges.” Trump also described Cassidy as a “terrible guy” earlier in the day and said. “His disloyalty to the man who got him elected is now a part of legend. and it’s nice to see that his political career is OVER!” During his speech. Cassidy acknowledged Trump’s comments. saying he’d been asked whether he was bothered by “being attacked on the internet.” He replied. “Insults only bother me if they come from somebody of character and integrity. and I find that people of character and integrity don’t spend their time attacking people on the internet. ” before returning to his message to voters.
Letlow. meanwhile. celebrated the win by telling her supporters she was “so grateful to President Trump.” She said she wanted to “continue to earn your support and garner every vote that I possibly can. ” promising. “I will never forget that this is not my seat — it is yours. the people’s seat. and that will be at the forefront of every decision I ever make. and every vote that I ever take. ” and adding. “I am so indebted to you. Louisiana.” She closed with: “Thank you so much for giving me this honor of a lifetime.. God bless you all.. God bless President Trump.. God bless Louisiana.. God bless the United States of America.” Trump later praised Letlow on social media, calling her a “fantastic person.”
The Senate primary unfolded against a broader backdrop of election disruption in Louisiana.. The U.S.. Supreme Court had struck down a redistricting plan that created a second majority Black congressional district. ruling that the Voting Rights Act does not permit states to draw voting districts primarily based on race.. Legal experts said the decision could chill other racially conscious remedies more broadly.. The Senate primary was allowed to proceed, but Louisiana state officials suspended House primaries until they can redraw district lines.
State Democratic leaders described the effects on voters as immediate and chaotic.. Dadrius Lanus. executive director of the state Democratic Party. said his team took hundreds of calls from voters who said the changes undermined their ability to vote.. “A lot of the information should have gotten to voters well in advance,” Lanus said.. “It’s literally been a whirlwind of confusion.”
The pattern was stark: Cassidy was punished by Louisiana Republican voters who advanced Letlow and Fleming to a June 27 runoff. while Trump escalated his attacks after Saturday night’s results and Cassidy responded by directly confronting claims about the 2020 election; at the same time. the Supreme Court’s redistricting ruling set off confusion that left House primaries suspended as state officials waited to redraw district lines.
Louisiana Senate primary Bill Cassidy Julia Letlow John Fleming June 27 runoff Donald Trump Jan. 6 Capitol Riot conviction Voting Rights Act Supreme Court redistricting Louisiana House primaries