Sen. Bill Cassidy loses GOP primary in Louisiana, as two rivals advance to a runoff
Fleming finished second in the Republican primary and will face Letlow in the runoff.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYCredibility rates Yahoo News, which republished this story. The other scores rate the article itself.
The reporting is attributed to NBC News, an established national newsroom, and the page identifies where the article originally appeared. Yahoo News is republishing the report rather than presenting it as its own original reporting.
- Source type — The article is a report from an established national news organization.
- Transparency — The page states that the article was originally published on NBCNews.com.
- Author attribution — A named reporter is credited.
- Editorial standards — The reporting is attributed to NBC News, though the page provides no corrections information.
The report gives vote shares, identifies the source of the projections, includes comments from candidates and voters, and describes competing campaign arguments. Some claims and the account of the alleged offer to Fleming rely on limited sourcing, and the Democratic runoff field is unresolved.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article covers the three leading Republican candidates, reports contrasting voter views of Cassidy, and includes their campaign arguments. The account of an alleged offer to Fleming includes a denial of comment from the White House, but does not provide further corroboration.
- Source diversity — Includes candidates, voters and a statement about the White House not responding to a request for comment.
- Counterarguments presented — Reports both criticism of Cassidy and support for his independence, as well as Letlow's response to attacks about her record.
- Omitted context — The alleged job offer to Fleming is presented without further sourcing or a response from the administration.
- Loaded language — Loaded characterizations are mainly attributed to candidates or Trump.
The article reports the primary results and campaign statements in a largely descriptive manner, attributing criticism and praise to the people who made them. Its framing does not clearly favor a political side.
- Language tone — Mostly factual language, with charged descriptions and quotations attributed to their sources.
- Source selection — Includes statements from the candidates, voters with differing views of Cassidy, and Trump.
- Framing — Frames the result as a notable Republican primary and a sign of Trump's influence without endorsing a candidate.
Republished with credit
Republished from NBC News, with credit to the original publisher.
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.
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.
NBC News projected that Letlow and Fleming would meet in a June 27 runoff after neither won a majority. With 93% of the expected vote in, Letlow had 45%, Fleming 28% and Cassidy 25%. Cassidy’s loss makes him another Republican who voted to convict Trump during the 2021 impeachment and will not return to Congress next year.
The article describes Cassidy’s impeachment vote and clashes with Trump as issues in the campaign. Trump celebrated Cassidy’s defeat and had endorsed Letlow, while Letlow and Fleming both campaigned as Trump allies. Cassidy criticized claims that elections were stolen in his election-night remarks; the article also reports that Letlow and Fleming advanced in the Democratic primary and that Republicans were expected to be favored in November.
Community verdict
VOTING CLOSEDNo good or bad look here
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.
People in this story
SWIPE →Louisiana state treasurer and Republican Senate candidate advancing to the runoff
Louisiana senator who lost the Republican primary
Cassidy's version of this story ↗President who backed Letlow and campaigned against Cassidy
Trump's version of this story ↗Louisiana representative and Republican Senate candidate advancing to the runoff
Letlow's version of this story ↗Kentucky representative mentioned as another Republican Trump wanted to defeat
Health and Human Services secretary whose confirmation drew Cassidy's support despite disagreements over vaccines
Democratic Senate candidate projected to advance to a runoff
Part of a bigger story
22 OUTLETSOutlets 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.
- ARTICLES
- 25
- OUTLETS
- 22
- AVG CRED
- 70
- The Advocate · Julia Letlow is favored to be Louisiana's next senator | State Politics
- The Hayride · Letlow and Fleming headed for runoff in Louisiana U.S. Senate race
- 710 KURV - The Valley's News/Talk Station · Sen. Cassidy Knocked Out Of Louisiana Republican Primary As Trump-Backed Letlow, Fleming Make Runoff – 710am KURV
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