Senator Bill Cassidy, who voted to convict former President Donald Trump during his 2021 impeachment, has been defeated in Louisiana’s Republican primary. Challengers Julia Letlow and state Treasurer John Fleming, both aligned with Trump, are advancing to a runoff election as projected by NBC News.
Letlow, endorsed by Trump, leads with 45% of the votes, followed by Fleming with 28%, and Cassidy with 25%. With 93% of votes counted, Letlow failed to secure a majority, leading to a runoff with Fleming on June 27.
Trump celebrated Cassidy’s defeat on Truth Social, criticizing Cassidy’s past impeachment vote. Trump stated Cassidy’s political career is over due to his alleged disloyalty.
Cassidy did not directly mention Trump in his speech but criticized the spreading of false claims about the 2020 election. Cassidy stated, “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.”
He emphasized that democracy is not about one person, but about the welfare of Americans and loyalty to the Constitution. Cassidy also noted online attacks against him, saying, “Insults only bother me if they come from somebody of character and integrity.”
No Republican senator had lost a primary since 2012, but Cassidy faced challenges due to his past clashes with Trump. He acknowledged that his impeachment vote might affect his primary chances, though he stressed his ongoing support for many of Trump’s policies.
Opponents like Elias Jacob FaKouri criticized Cassidy’s impeachment vote as disloyal. Cassidy’s supporters, however, appreciated his independence from party lines.
Letlow defended her record against Cassidy and his allies’ critiques, particularly regarding her stock trades and support for diversity efforts, dismissing allegations of being ‘Liberal Letlow.’ She expresses her commitment to conservative values and praises Trump’s endorsement as energizing her campaign.
Fleming casts himself as a consistent Trump ally, claiming the mantle of ‘true conservative.’ Despite lacking Trump’s endorsement, Fleming promotes his MAGA credentials. His campaign is largely self-funded with a reported $10.6 million loan.
The upcoming runoff remains uncertain in terms of Trump’s further involvement, as his focus is reportedly on another primary in Kentucky. While Trump criticized Cassidy through social media, he has not publicly campaigned in Louisiana for Letlow.
The Democratic primary is also proceeding to a runoff, with farmer Jamie Davis advancing. Republicans are anticipated to retain the seat in the upcoming general election, mirroring their recent electoral successes in Louisiana. Trump carried the state by 22 points in the 2024 presidential election.