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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

GOP Sen. Cassidy Loses Primary After Defying Trump

Cassidy lost his party’s primary after Trump urged voters to defeat him.

GOP Sen. Cassidy Loses Primary After Defying Trump
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This article1 analysis · Oct 6, 2026
Newser
May 17, 2026
tl;dr

Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy failed to reach a runoff in his party’s primary after President Donald Trump urged voters to defeat him and endorsed Julia Letlow. Letlow and John Fleming advanced to a June 27 runoff.

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VOTING CLOSED
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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.

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People in this story

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Bill Cassidy
R · LA · SEN

Louisiana senator who failed to reach the runoff in the Republican primary

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who urged Cassidy's defeat, endorsed Letlow and celebrated Cassidy's loss

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

Maine senator mentioned as one of the remaining Republicans who voted to convict Trump

Lisa Murkowski
R · AK · SEN

Alaska senator mentioned as one of the remaining Republicans who voted to convict Trump

Julia Letlow
R · LA-5

Louisiana representative and Senate candidate endorsed by Trump who advanced to the runoff

Louisiana Senate candidate who advanced to the runoff

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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