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

Letlow advanced to the runoff after winning Trump’s endorsement in the Senate primary.

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

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May 16, 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 highlights President Donald Trump’s influence in the race and raises questions about changes to Louisiana’s election process.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
Julia Letlow R · LA-5
NOT RATEDCLOSED

No good or bad look here

This story reports what happened without casting Letlow in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Letlow’s record.

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

SWIPE →
Julia Letlow
R · LA-5

Representative who advanced to the Republican Senate runoff

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President whose endorsement and attacks shaped the Republican primary

Trump's version of this story ↗

State treasurer and Senate candidate who advanced to the runoff

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

Incumbent senator defeated in the Republican primary

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

Representative facing a Trump-backed primary challenger in Kentucky

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

Health and Human Services secretary whose nomination Cassidy supported

Democratic Senate candidate who advanced to a runoff

Democratic Senate candidate in a close contest for the other runoff spot

Democratic Senate candidate in a close contest for the other runoff spot

Trump-backed primary challenger to Thomas Massie

Former U.S. representative and Julia Letlow’s late husband

ALSO MENTIONED  Casey Means, Trump’s second choice for surgeon general; Dadrius Lanus, Executive director of the state Democratic Party commenting on voter confusion; Jeff Landry, Louisiana political figure who suggested Letlow as a Senate challenger

Part of a bigger story

43 OUTLETS
Julia Letlow Advances to Louisiana Senate Runoff

Julia Letlow and John Fleming advanced to a runoff in Louisiana’s Republican Senate primary, while Bill Cassidy finished third and did not advance. Letlow had President Trump’s endorsement. Center outlets emphasize the result and often present the race as a test of Trump’s influence, with Cassidy’s impeachment vote as context. Right-leaning outlets also stress Trump’s role but more often cast Cassidy’s loss as payback for that vote.

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