Republican Senator Bill Cassidy suffered a major political defeat in Louisiana’s Republican primary after former President Donald Trump openly campaigned against him.
Cassidy, who was seeking the Republican nomination for a third Senate term, finished third in Saturday’s primary election, ending his path to re-election. The loss comes years after Cassidy voted to convict Trump during the impeachment trial following the January 6 Capitol riot — a move that angered many Republican voters in Louisiana.
According to results reported with nearly all votes counted, Congresswoman Julia Letlow secured first place with over 45% of the vote. Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming came second with roughly 28%, while Cassidy received about 24%. Letlow and Fleming will now advance to a runoff election scheduled for June 27.
Trump played a major role in the race by endorsing Letlow and repeatedly attacking Cassidy on social media. On election day, Trump described Cassidy as “disloyal” and predicted he would be “clobbered” in the primary. His endorsement appeared to energize Republican voters who remained upset over Cassidy’s impeachment vote.
During her victory speech, Letlow thanked Trump for his support and called his endorsement the most important factor in her campaign. She also said many Louisiana voters believed Cassidy had “turned his back” on them when he voted against Trump.
Cassidy responded to the defeat with indirect criticism of Trump, saying insults only matter when they come from people with “character and integrity.” He also stressed that American politics should focus on the Constitution and the welfare of citizens rather than one individual.
The Louisiana senator had attempted to repair relations with Trump supporters in recent years. Cassidy supported several Trump-backed policies and even voted to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for a top health position despite disagreements over vaccine policies. However, those efforts were not enough to win back the Republican base.
Political analysts say Cassidy’s defeat highlights the growing influence Trump continues to hold over the Republican Party. Several other Republican politicians who challenged or criticized Trump in recent years have also faced difficult primary battles or retirement decisions.
Changes to Louisiana’s election system may have further hurt Cassidy’s chances. State leaders recently adjusted Senate primary rules so that only Republican voters and independents could participate, creating a more Trump-aligned voting environment.
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