Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy Loses Republican Primary

Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy finished third in Saturday's primary and will not advance to the June 27 runoff. The outcome ends his bid for a third term after President Trump endorsed two challengers.

Primary Results Rep.

Julia Letlow led the field and will face state Treasurer John Fleming in the runoff. Letlow said the endorsement from President Trump was the most important factor in the race. Fleming served as a White House deputy chief of staff during President Trump's first term.

He accused Letlow's campaign chair of offering him a CDC position in exchange for dropping out, an accusation the campaign chair denied.

President Trump posted on social media that Cassidy's defeat was a "great victory" and described the senator's political career as over. The president cited Cassidy's 2021 vote to convict him in the impeachment trial over the January 6 Capitol riot.

Cassidy, a physician, supported Robert F. 's nomination as health secretary but later clashed with him over changes at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Voters interviewed after the primary said the senator's attempts to align with Trump did not overcome his impeachment vote.

— Rep. Lindsey Graham said on NBC's Meet the Press that Republicans who try to destroy Trump politically will lose. Graham noted that four other Republican senators who voted to convict Trump did not run for reelection afterward. Cassidy told supporters in Baton Rouge that the country is about the welfare of all Americans and the Constitution, not one individual.

Several voters said they supported Letlow because they believed a senator aligned with President Trump would help secure federal funding for the state.