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Sen. Bill Cassidy loses Louisiana GOP primary to Trump-backed Letlow and Fleming

Fleming finished second in the primary and will compete with Letlow for the nomination.

Sen. Bill Cassidy loses Louisiana GOP primary to Trump-backed Letlow and Fleming
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This article1 analysis · Oct 6, 2026
Fox News
May 16, 2026
tl;dr

Bill Cassidy finished third in Louisiana’s Republican Senate primary, while Julia Letlow and John Fleming advanced to a runoff. The result ended Cassidy’s bid for renomination and marked a victory for Donald Trump’s endorsement in the race.

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VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
John Fleming R · LA
NOT RATEDCLOSED

No good or bad look here

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

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

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Louisiana treasurer and Republican Senate candidate who advanced to the runoff

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Bill Cassidy
R · LA · SEN

Incumbent senator who finished third in Louisiana’s Republican primary

Cassidy's version of this story ↗
Julia Letlow
R · LA-5

Representative and Republican Senate candidate who advanced to the runoff

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

President whose endorsement and attacks featured in the Republican primary

Trump's version of this story ↗

Former president mentioned in the account of the 2021 impeachment trial

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

Health and Human Services secretary whose confirmation Cassidy supported

Julia Letlow’s husband, who won the House seat she later held

ALSO MENTIONED  Casey Means, Surgeon general nominee and ally of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; Jeff Landry, Louisiana governor who backed Letlow; Richard Lugar, Former Indiana senator cited as the previous elected Republican senator to lose renomination

Part of a bigger story

22 OUTLETS
Letlow and Fleming Advance to Louisiana Senate Runoff

Outlets agree that Bill Cassidy lost Louisiana’s Republican Senate primary and Julia Letlow and John Fleming advanced to a runoff. Fleming’s role is to face Letlow in the contest for the Republican nomination. Left-leaning outlets connect the result to Trump’s endorsement and Cassidy’s past impeachment vote, while also noting Cassidy’s criticism of election denial. Center outlets mostly report the result and place it in the context of Trump’s influence, with some also discussing election-process issues or the runoff outlook. Right-leaning outlets more strongly cast Cassidy’s defeat as tied to Trump’s influence and Cassidy’s vote to convict him.

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