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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

This Republican voted to convict Trump. Now he's up for reelection. Can he survive?

Cassidy is defending his Senate seat after his vote to convict Trump became a point of division among Louisiana Republicans.

This Republican voted to convict Trump. Now he's up for reelection. Can he survive?
Image · NCPR

SOURCE CHECK

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Host credibilityNCPR79/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 6, 2026

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Republished from NPR, with credit to the original publisher.

NPR89/100 HIGH

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

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NCPRvia NPR
May 16, 2026
tl;dr

Sen. Bill Cassidy is seeking reelection in a Louisiana Republican primary against Trump-endorsed Rep. Julia Letlow and former congressman John Fleming. The contest is presented as a test of Trump’s influence in the party and of whether Cassidy can survive after voting to convict Trump.

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 seeking reelection

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Julia Letlow
R · LA-5

Louisiana representative and Republican Senate primary challenger

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

Maine senator who also voted to convict Trump and is seeking reelection

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President whose endorsement and influence figure in the Louisiana Senate primary

Lisa Murkowski
R · AK · SEN

Alaska senator who also voted to convict Trump and won reelection in 2022

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

Secretary of Health and Human Services whose nomination Cassidy helped advance

Kamala Harris
Former U.S. Senator (D-CA)

Former vice president mentioned in describing Maine’s recent presidential vote

Louisiana state treasurer and Republican Senate primary challenger

ALSO MENTIONED  Dustin Jacque Arnaud, Republican activist supporting Letlow; Jay Dardenne, Former Louisiana lieutenant governor commenting on Cassidy’s electoral position; Jeff Landry, Louisiana governor; Kelby Daigle, St. Martin Parish Republican Party chair and Cassidy supporter

Part of a bigger story

6 OUTLETS
Trump Urges Voters to Back Bill Cassidy’s Primary Challenger

Trump attacked Sen. Bill Cassidy on Louisiana’s Republican primary day and urged voters to support Rep. Julia Letlow. Cassidy was seeking reelection after voting to convict Trump in the 2021 impeachment trial. Left-leaning outlets center Trump’s attack and endorsement of Letlow. Center outlets frame the primary as a test of Trump’s influence and whether voters will support Cassidy after his vote to convict Trump.

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