Louisiana Republican primary: Bill Cassidy defeated by Trump-backed Julia Letlow | Today’s news
Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy lost his re-election bid in Louisiana’s Republican primary on Saturday, marking a major political victory for US President Donald Trump and his campaign against Republicans who opposed him.
Trump-endorsed Congresswoman Julia Letlow and Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming advanced to the June 27 runoff after Cassidy finished third in a closely contested three-way race.
Cassidy became the first elected U.S. senator since 2012 to lose renomination in the primary.
Trump celebrates Cassidy’s defeat
Trump was quick to celebrate the Louisiana result, portraying Cassidy’s defeat as retaliation for the senator voting to convict him during his 2021 impeachment trial after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
“His disloyalty to the man who got him elected is now part of legend and it’s nice to see his political career is OVER!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The president also praised Letlow after she secured the top spot in the primary.
Julia Letlow thanks voters and supports Trump’s agenda
Letlow, who entered Congress after winning a special election following the death of her husband Luke Letlow from complications of COVID-19 in 2020, called the result a victory for pro-Trump conservatives.
“THANK YOU, LOUISIANA!” Letlow wrote on X.
“Louisiana made it clear tonight: we are ready for strong conservative leadership that will stand with President Trump and never waver.”
“Because of your support, your prayers, and your faith in this campaign, we are one step closer to sending this leadership to the United States Senate.
According to the Associated Press, Letlow led Fleming 45.2 percent to 28.3 percent, with nearly all votes counted.
The winner of the runoff is likely to face Democrat Jamie Davis in the November general election in a state widely seen as safely Republican.
Cassidy makes a concession speech
In his concession speech, Cassidy thanked Louisiana voters and appeared to indirectly criticize Trump’s political style.
“When you participate in a democracy, sometimes things don’t go the way you want them to,” Cassidy said.
“But you don’t pout. You don’t whine.”
“You thank the voters for the privilege of representing the state or the country for as long as you have had that privilege.”
Cassidy served Louisiana in the U.S. Senate for 12 years after previously serving in the Louisiana Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.
The impeachment vote sparked a long-running dispute
Cassidy’s relationship with Trump soured after he became one of seven Republican senators to vote to impeach Trump during the president’s second trial in 2021.
He later called on Trump to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race following the classified documents allegations and refused to endorse him after he won the Republican nomination.
Although Cassidy later supported the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary, tensions between the senator and Trump continued.
Cassidy later criticized Kennedy’s vaccination policy and joined Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski in slowing parts of Kennedy’s health agenda in Congress.
Trump’s retaliation campaign is gaining momentum
The Louisiana primary was the latest example of Trump targeting Republicans seen as insufficiently loyal.
Earlier this month, several Republican lawmakers in Indiana lost primary elections after opposing Trump-backed congressional redistricting plans aimed at protecting the Republican majority in the House of Representatives.
Attention now shifts to Kentucky, where Trump is backing challenger Ed Gallrein against Congressman Thomas Massie, another Republican critic who has clashed with Trump over foreign policy and the release of government files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
Cassidy’s long political career is coming to an end
A liver disease specialist by training, Cassidy helped found a Baton Rouge health clinic serving low-income patients before entering politics.
He became the first Republican senator to win the Louisiana seat since 1883 when he defeated Democrat Mary Landrieu in 2014.
He later chaired the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and won re-election in 2020 with nearly 60 percent of the vote.
Former Republican Senator Richard Lugar was the last elected incumbent to lose renomination in the 2012 primary.
Read also | Who is Thomas Massie? Kentucky Republican Trump Wants to Defeat in Primary
