Louisiana Senate Primary Features Incumbent Cassidy Against Trump-Endorsed Challenger
Incumbent Senator Bill Cassidy faces a primary challenge from Representative Julia Letlow, who received an endorsement from President Trump. Primary elections for Louisiana's House seats were postponed following a Supreme Court ruling in Louisiana v. Callais that addressed the use of racial demographics in congressional redistricting.
nypost.comTrump has criticized Cassidy for voting to convict him during the impeachment trial following the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The president has also accused Cassidy of disloyalty for not supporting a nominee aligned with the MAHA initiative for surgeon general.
Cassidy, a physician by training, has clashed with Robert F. , the Secretary of Health and Human Services, over proposed changes to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and federal vaccine recommendations. Letlow previously served as an academic administrator and won a special election to Congress after her husband, who had been elected in 2020, died of COVID-19 before taking office.
Fleming has accused Letlow's campaign chair of offering him a position as deputy director of the C.D.C. in exchange for dropping out of the race. The campaign chair has denied the accusation. On the Democratic side, three candidates are competing. , a third-generation Louisiana farmer who has focused on progressive priorities including raising the minimum wage, taxing the wealthy and passing Medicare for All.
Primary elections for Louisiana's House races, originally set for Saturday, were suspended after the Supreme Court's ruling last month in Louisiana v. Callais. The decision found that state lawmakers had illegally used racial demographics to redraw congressional districts in 2024.
It invalidated a core provision of the Voting Rights Act and permitted Southern states to redraw maps to remove majority-minority districts where racial minorities make up more than 50 percent of the population. Earlier this week, Louisiana's state Senate voted to advance a new congressional map.
The map would eliminate one of the state's two Black-majority congressional districts.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
4 events- 2026-05-16
Louisiana Senate primary election is underway with Cassidy facing Trump-endorsed challenger.
1 sourceThe New Yorker - This week
Louisiana state Senate advanced a new congressional map eliminating one Black-majority district.
1 sourceThe New Yorker - Last month
Supreme Court issued ruling in Louisiana v. Callais on racial demographics in redistricting.
1 sourceThe New Yorker - 2024
State lawmakers redrew congressional districts using racial demographics.
1 sourceThe New Yorker
Potential Impact
- 01
The Supreme Court ruling permits Southern states to redraw maps without majority-minority districts.
- 02
Postponement of House primaries delays candidate selection for Louisiana's congressional races.
- 03
The new congressional map is likely to add one Republican seat in Louisiana for the 2026 midterms.
Transparency Panel
Related Stories
BBC NewsTrump Meets Advisers to Decide on Iran Ceasefire Extension
President Trump said he is holding a Situation Room meeting to make a final decision on a possible deal with Iran. The proposed agreement would extend the ceasefire by 60 days and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump to Decide on Iran Deal in Situation Room Meeting
President Trump said Friday he is heading into the Situation Room to make a final determination on a potential agreement with Iran. The proposed deal would reopen the Strait of Hormuz without tolls and require destruction of Iran's highly-enriched uranium.
benzinga.comVietnam Clears Graves for Trump Organization Project in Hung Yen Province
Farmers in Hung Yen province are exhuming family graves to make way for a $1.5 billion Trump Organization development that includes hotels, villas and a golf course. The project, approved last year, has drawn local resistance over compensation levels and relocation of remains.