Louisiana GOP Senate Primary Heads to Runoff Between Letlow and Fleming

Sen. Rep. Julia Letlow and state Treasurer John Fleming advanced to a June 27 runoff.

Letlow received just over 44 percent of the vote.

Fleming received just over 28 percent. Cassidy received 24.8 percent. No candidate reached a majority, so the top two advance under Louisiana rules.

Letlow received President Trump’s endorsement in January. Fleming has described his own ties to the president and previously served as Trump’s deputy chief of staff. Cassidy, a physician and chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, voted to convict Trump in the 2021 impeachment trial after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

“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, you don’t find a reason, you don’t manufacture some excuse.”

Cassidy said the country is not about one individual and emphasized loyalty to the Constitution and the welfare of Louisiana residents. He also stated he has no regrets about his 2021 vote and continues to work with the Trump administration on judicial appointments.

President Trump congratulated Letlow on a "fantastic race" and called her a "spectacular person." He separately posted that Cassidy’s political career is "OVER" and described the senator’s impeachment vote as based on "preposterous charges." The primary outcome marks another instance of Trump-backed candidates prevailing over Republicans who have opposed him in the past.