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◆ Mixed look for TrumpVoting RightsElections / Campaigns

Sen. Cassidy knocked out of Louisiana Republican primary as Trump-backed Letlow, Fleming make runoff

Trump’s endorsement of Letlow and criticism of Cassidy featured prominently in the Louisiana primary.

Sen. Cassidy knocked out of Louisiana Republican primary as Trump-backed Letlow, Fleming make runoff
Image · Orlandosentinel

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Outlet credibilityOrlandosentinel79/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 6, 2026

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Cites Associated Press

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Associated Press96/100 HIGH

459 stories · 96–97 · updated Oct 7, 2026

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Orlandosentinelcites Associated Press
May 17, 2026
tl;dr

Bill Cassidy lost Louisiana’s Republican Senate primary, while Julia Letlow and John Fleming advanced to a June 27 runoff. The result followed a campaign shaped by Donald Trump’s endorsement of Letlow and his attacks on Cassidy.

Community verdict

42 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 attacked Cassidy during the campaign

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Julia Letlow
R · LA-5

Louisiana representative and Republican Senate candidate who advanced to the runoff

Letlow's version of this story ↗
Bill Cassidy
R · LA · SEN

Louisiana senator defeated in the Republican primary

Cassidy's version of this story ↗

Louisiana Senate candidate who advanced to the Republican runoff

Fleming's version of this story ↗
Thomas Massie
R · KY-4

Kentucky representative facing a Trump-backed primary challenger

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

Secretary of Health and Human Services whose nomination Cassidy supported

Democratic Senate candidate who advanced to a runoff

Democratic Senate candidate whose place in a runoff remained too close to call

Democratic Senate candidate whose place in a runoff remained too close to call

Trump-backed challenger to Thomas Massie in Kentucky

Julia Letlow’s husband, elected to the House but deceased before taking office

ALSO MENTIONED  Casey Means, Trump’s second choice for surgeon general; Dadrius Lanus, Executive director of the Louisiana Democratic Party; John Martin, Louisiana voter who said he planned to vote for Letlow; Landry, Louisiana political figure who suggested Letlow to Trump

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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