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

Letlow finished first in the primary and will face Fleming in the runoff.

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.

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

Representative and Republican Senate candidate who advanced to the runoff

PRIMARY SUBJECT

Louisiana treasurer and Republican Senate candidate who advanced to the runoff

Fleming's version of this story ↗
Bill Cassidy
R · LA · SEN

Incumbent senator who finished third in Louisiana’s Republican primary

Cassidy'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

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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