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U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, who voted to convict Trump, loses his seat in Louisiana

Fleming advanced to the runoff and described his unsuccessful efforts to reach Trump before the endorsement.

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This article1 analysis · Oct 6, 2026

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

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Public Radio Eastvia NPR
May 17, 2026
tl;dr

Bill Cassidy lost Louisiana’s Republican Senate primary, leaving Julia Letlow and John Fleming to compete in a runoff. The report examines President Trump’s influence in the race and describes voter complaints about problems with primary ballots.

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VOTING CLOSED
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John Fleming R · LA
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This story reports what happened without casting Fleming in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Fleming’s record.

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Louisiana Senate candidate advancing to the runoff

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Bill Cassidy
R · LA · SEN

Louisiana senator who lost the Republican primary

Cassidy's version of this story ↗
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President whose endorsement and criticism featured in the race

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

Louisiana representative and Senate runoff candidate

Letlow's version of this story ↗
ALSO MENTIONED  Dadrius Lanus, Louisiana Democratic Party executive director who described reported ballot denials; Jeff Landry, Louisiana governor who changed the timing of House races to allow congressional map redrawing

Part of a bigger story

22 OUTLETS
Letlow and Fleming Advance to Louisiana Senate Runoff

Outlets agree that Bill Cassidy lost Louisiana’s Republican Senate primary and Julia Letlow and John Fleming advanced to a runoff. Fleming’s role is to face Letlow in the contest for the Republican nomination. Left-leaning outlets connect the result to Trump’s endorsement and Cassidy’s past impeachment vote, while also noting Cassidy’s criticism of election denial. Center outlets mostly report the result and place it in the context of Trump’s influence, with some also discussing election-process issues or the runoff outlook. Right-leaning outlets more strongly cast Cassidy’s defeat as tied to Trump’s influence and Cassidy’s vote to convict him.

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