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◆ Mixed look for TrumpElections / Campaigns

GOP Sen. Cassidy Loses Primary After Defying Trump

Trump urged voters to defeat Cassidy, endorsed Letlow and celebrated the result.

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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Donald Trump R · President of the United States
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Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

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

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Bill Cassidy
R · LA · SEN

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

Cassidy'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

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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