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With Sen. Cassidy's primary defeat, Trump's revenge campaign continues

Cassidy’s primary defeat followed years of conflict with Trump over his impeachment vote and health policy.

With Sen. Cassidy's primary defeat, Trump's revenge campaign continues
Image · Los Angeles Times

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

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Los Angeles Timesvia Bloomberg
May 17, 2026
tl;dr

Sen. Bill Cassidy finished third in Louisiana’s Republican Senate primary after President Trump backed Rep. Julia Letlow and campaigned against Cassidy. Letlow and John Fleming advanced to a runoff, extending Trump’s effort to defeat Republican lawmakers who have opposed him.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
Bill Cassidy R · LA · SEN
NOT RATEDCLOSED

No good or bad look here

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

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

SWIPE →
Bill Cassidy
R · LA · SEN

Louisiana senator who lost the Republican primary

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who backed Letlow and campaigned against Cassidy

Trump's version of this story ↗
Lindsey Graham
Former U.S. Senator (R-SC)

South Carolina senator commenting on Trump’s influence in the Republican Party

Susan M. Collins
R · ME · SEN

Maine senator who also voted to convict Trump in the 2021 impeachment trial

Thomas Massie
R · KY-4

Kentucky representative facing a primary challenge from Trump

Lisa Murkowski
R · AK · SEN

Alaska senator who also voted to convict Trump in the 2021 impeachment trial

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

Health secretary whose policies and political operation figure in Cassidy’s disputes

Julia Letlow
R · LA-5

Louisiana representative who finished first in the Republican primary

Ken Paxton
R · TX

Texas attorney general and Senate candidate in a Republican runoff

Louisiana state treasurer and Senate candidate who advanced to the runoff

John Cornyn
R · TX · SEN

Texas senator in a Republican runoff

ALSO MENTIONED  Casey Means, Nominee for surgeon general whose nomination Trump said Cassidy had thwarted

Part of a bigger story

55 OUTLETS
Bill Cassidy Finishes Third in Louisiana Republican Senate Primary

Outlets agree that Bill Cassidy finished third in Louisiana’s Republican Senate primary and will not advance, while Julia Letlow and John Fleming advance to a runoff. Left-leaning outlets frame the result mainly as part of Trump’s effort to oust Republicans who opposed him, often noting Cassidy’s criticism in his concession. Center outlets largely treat it as a test of Trump’s influence and report both his celebration and Cassidy’s response. Right-leaning outlets stress Cassidy’s break with Trump or voters’ rejection of his record, while some portray the result as evidence Trump’s endorsement still carries weight.

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