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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy loses in Republican primary, does not advance to runoff

Letlow advanced to the runoff after finishing ahead of Cassidy in the Republican primary.

Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy loses in Republican primary, does not advance to runoff
Image · 90.5 WESA

SOURCE CHECK

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Host credibility90.5 WESANOT RATED
This article1 analysis · Oct 6, 2026

Credibility rates 90.5 WESA, which republished this story. The other scores rate the article itself.

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Republished from NPR, with credit to the original publisher.

NPR89/100 HIGH

76 stories · 89–90 · updated Oct 7, 2026

This is NPR's own score, and this article is credited to NPR. The host score in the Source Check is 90.5 WESA's.

90.5 WESAvia NPR
May 17, 2026
tl;dr

Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy finished third in the Republican primary and will not advance to the runoff, while Rep. Julia Letlow and state Treasurer John Fleming will compete for the nomination. The result is described as a test of President Trump's influence over Republican voters.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
Julia Letlow R · LA-5
NOT RATEDCLOSED

No good or bad look here

This story reports what happened without casting Letlow in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Letlow’s record.

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

SWIPE →
Julia Letlow
R · LA-5

Louisiana representative and Republican Senate candidate advancing to the runoff

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Bill Cassidy
R · LA · SEN

Louisiana senator who lost the Republican primary

Cassidy's version of this story ↗
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who recruited Letlow and campaigned against Cassidy

Trump's version of this story ↗
Susan M. Collins
R · ME · SEN

Maine senator whose reelection race is discussed for comparison

Liz Cheney
Former U.S. Representative (R-WY)

Former representative cited as another Republican Trump targeted

Thomas Massie
R · KY-4

Kentucky representative facing a Trump-endorsed primary challenger

Lisa Murkowski
R · AK · SEN

Alaska senator whose 2022 reelection is cited for comparison

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
R · Secretary of Health and Human Services

Secretary of Health and Human Services whose nomination Cassidy helped advance

Marjorie Taylor Greene
Former U.S. Representative (R-GA)

Former representative cited as another Republican Trump targeted

Thom Tillis
R · NC · SEN

North Carolina senator cited as an example of a vocal Trump critic

Louisiana state treasurer and Republican Senate candidate advancing to the runoff

ALSO MENTIONED  Jeff Landry, Louisiana governor

Part of a bigger story

43 OUTLETS
Julia Letlow Advances to Louisiana Senate Runoff

Julia Letlow and John Fleming advanced to a runoff in Louisiana’s Republican Senate primary, while Bill Cassidy finished third and did not advance. Letlow had President Trump’s endorsement. Center outlets emphasize the result and often present the race as a test of Trump’s influence, with Cassidy’s impeachment vote as context. Right-leaning outlets also stress Trump’s role but more often cast Cassidy’s loss as payback for that vote.

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