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◆ Mixed look for TrumpElections / Campaigns

La. Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy fails to make runoff in primary, as Trump-backed challenger tops vote

Trump backed Letlow and used social media to attack Cassidy before and after the primary result.

La. Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy fails to make runoff in primary, as Trump-backed challenger tops vote
Image · New York Post

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Outlet credibilityNew York Post65/100 MEDIUM
This article1 analysis · Oct 6, 2026
May 16, 2026
tl;dr

Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy finished third in the Republican primary and will not advance to the runoff. Rep. Julia Letlow and state Treasurer John Fleming advanced, in a race where President Trump had endorsed Letlow and repeatedly criticized Cassidy.

Community verdict

32 VOTES
How does this story look for
Donald Trump R · President of the United States
● OPEN

People in this story

SWIPE →
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who endorsed Letlow and criticized Cassidy

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Bill Cassidy
R · LA · SEN

Louisiana senator who finished third in the Republican primary

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

Louisiana representative and Senate candidate who led the Republican primary

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

Maine senator mentioned in comparison with Republican senators facing reelection

Mike Johnson
R · LA-4

Speaker of the House who commented on his ties to the candidates

Lisa Murkowski
R · AK · SEN

Alaska senator mentioned in comparison with Republican senators facing reelection

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

Health and Human Services secretary and former nominee mentioned in connection with Cassidy's confirmation vote

Louisiana state treasurer and Senate candidate who advanced to the runoff

ALSO MENTIONED  Xi Jinping, Chinese president mentioned in reference to Trump's trip

Part of a bigger story

45 OUTLETS
Bill Cassidy Loses Louisiana Republican Primary

Bill Cassidy finished third and was eliminated from Louisiana’s Republican Senate primary; Julia Letlow and John Fleming advanced to a runoff. Donald Trump backed Letlow and campaigned against Cassidy. Left-leaning outlets link Cassidy’s defeat to Trump’s campaign against him and Cassidy’s conflicts with the administration. Center outlets mostly treat the result as a test of Trump’s influence, while also reporting the race and, in some coverage, Louisiana election concerns. Right-leaning outlets emphasize Trump’s backing of Letlow as a political win and portray Cassidy’s defeat as a rebuke of his opposition to Trump.

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