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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

Sen. Bill Cassidy loses GOP primary in Louisiana, as two rivals advance to a runoff

Cassidy lost the Republican primary after campaigning amid renewed attention to his impeachment vote and clashes with Trump.

Sen. Bill Cassidy loses GOP primary in Louisiana, as two rivals advance to a runoff
Image · Yahoo News

SOURCE CHECK

TAP FOR WHY
Host credibilityYahoo News76/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 6, 2026

Credibility rates Yahoo News, which republished this story. The other scores rate the article itself.

Republished with credit

Republished from NBC News, with credit to the original publisher.

NBC News85/100 HIGH

217 stories · 85–86 · updated Oct 7, 2026

This is NBC News's own score, and this article is credited to NBC News. The host score in the Source Check is Yahoo News's.

Yahoo Newsvia NBC News
May 17, 2026
tl;dr

Sen. Bill Cassidy lost Louisiana’s Republican Senate primary, while Rep. Julia Letlow and state Treasurer John Fleming advanced to a June 27 runoff. The result leaves the incumbent’s seat open for the general election and highlights President Donald Trump’s influence in the race.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
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.

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

SWIPE →
Bill Cassidy
R · LA · SEN

Louisiana senator who lost the Republican primary

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who backed Letlow and campaigned against Cassidy

Trump's version of this story ↗

Louisiana state treasurer and Republican Senate candidate advancing to the runoff

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

Louisiana representative and Republican Senate candidate advancing to the runoff

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

Kentucky representative mentioned as another Republican Trump wanted to defeat

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

Health and Human Services secretary whose confirmation drew Cassidy's support despite disagreements over vaccines

Democratic Senate candidate projected to advance to a runoff

ALSO MENTIONED  Jeff Landry, Louisiana governor who backed Letlow

Part of a bigger story

11 OUTLETS
Bill Cassidy Finishes Third in Louisiana Republican Primary

Outlets agree that Bill Cassidy finished third in Louisiana’s Republican primary and did not advance to the runoff; President Trump had backed Julia Letlow, who advanced. Left-leaning outlets connect Cassidy’s defeat to Trump’s backing of Letlow. Center outlets report the result and runoff, while also examining Trump’s influence and the implications for Senate Republicans. Right-leaning outlets emphasize Trump’s role in Cassidy’s defeat and place it in the wider context of his challenges to Republican incumbents.

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