Louisiana Republican Senator Loses Primary After Voting to Impeach Trump

Sen. , lost his Republican primary this week to Rep. Julia Letlow after defending his vote to convict President Donald Trump during the second impeachment trial five years ago. Cassidy told reporters at the Capitol on Monday that he considered the vote a "privilege" to uphold the Constitution.

He said the decision may have cost him his seat but added that he felt good about serving his country and the Constitution.

Letlow received 45 percent of the vote, Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming received 28 percent, and Cassidy received just over 24 percent. Letlow and Fleming will advance to a runoff election next month. President Donald Trump endorsed Letlow in January and campaigned against Cassidy, calling him a "sleazebag," "a terrible guy," and a "disloyal disaster" on the morning of the election.

After conceding, Cassidy told supporters that participants in democracy sometimes do not get the outcome they want. He said voters should be thanked for the opportunity to serve rather than making excuses about the results. Trump posted on social media after the election that it was nice to see Cassidy's political career was over.