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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

Sen. Cassidy ousted in Louisiana GOP primary, as two rivals advance to runoff

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

Sen. Cassidy ousted in Louisiana GOP primary, as two rivals advance to runoff
Image · Los Angeles Times

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Outlet credibilityLos Angeles Times85/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 6, 2026

Credibility rates Los Angeles Times, where this article appeared. The other scores rate the article itself.

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Los Angeles Timesoriginal publisher not identified
May 16, 2026
tl;dr

Bill Cassidy failed to advance from Louisiana’s Republican Senate primary, leaving Julia Letlow and John Fleming to compete in a June 27 runoff. The result follows a campaign in which President Trump backed Letlow and criticized Cassidy.

Community verdict

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

SWIPE →

Louisiana Senate candidate and state treasurer who advanced to the runoff

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who endorsed Letlow and publicly criticized Cassidy

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

Louisiana senator who failed to advance from the Republican Senate primary

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

Louisiana representative and Republican Senate candidate who advanced to the runoff

Letlow's version of this story ↗
Thomas Massie
R · KY-4

Kentucky representative facing a separate Republican primary

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

Health secretary whose confirmation and vaccine policies are discussed as campaign context

Republican challenger to Thomas Massie in Kentucky

ALSO MENTIONED  Casey Means, Trump’s second choice for surgeon general whose nomination was withdrawn; Dadrius Lanus, Executive director of the Louisiana Democratic Party who reported voter calls about election changes; Jeff Landry, Louisiana governor who suggested Letlow as a Senate candidate; Mary-Patricia Wray, Political consultant who discussed how changes to the primary schedule could affect turnout

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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