Cassidy Ousted in Louisiana GOP Primary, Marking First Trump Retribution Win
"Our country is not about one individual. It is about the welfare of all Americans and it is about our Constitution."
— Senator Bill Cassidy, concession speech
Overview
In Louisiana's Republican Senate primary on May 16, 2026, incumbent Senator Bill Cassidy finished third and was eliminated from the race. Representative Julia Letlow and State Treasurer John Fleming advanced to a June 27 runoff, as no candidate received more than 50% of the vote.
The outcome marks the first time a Republican senator who voted to convict former President Donald Trump lost a primary challenge. The election is widely considered a measure of Trump's continued influence within the Republican Party.
Primary Results
Primary results with 93% of expected votes counted, according to NBC News projections, were as follows:
- Rep. Julia Letlow: 45%
- State Treasurer John Fleming: 28%
- Sen. Bill Cassidy (Incumbent): 25%
Other sources reported varying final percentages. The Associated Press reported Letlow with 38.1%, Fleming with 25.1%, and Cassidy with 20.9%.
The two highest vote-getters, Letlow and Fleming, will compete in a runoff election scheduled for June 27. The winner of the runoff is expected to win the November general election due to Louisiana's Republican leanings. No Democrat has won a Senate seat in the state since 2008.
The Candidates
Senator Bill Cassidy
Cassidy was seeking a third term. He chairs the Senate health committee and emphasized his work on infrastructure, flood recovery, prescription drug costs, and fentanyl enforcement. He outspent his rivals, with his campaign and supporting super PAC spending approximately $21.9 million.
Representative Julia Letlow
Letlow is a U.S. Representative who won a special election in 2021 after her husband, Luke Letlow, died of COVID-19 before being sworn into office. In Congress, she chairs the Appropriations Committee, sponsored the "Parents Bill of Rights Act," and introduced a bill to collect oral histories from the pandemic. Trump endorsed Letlow. Her campaign and supporting super PAC spent about $9.9 million.
State Treasurer John Fleming
Fleming is a former member of the U.S. House and a Trump administration official. He has positioned himself as a conservative ally of Trump despite not receiving his endorsement. His campaign spent approximately $1.5 million.
Background
Cassidy was one of seven Republican senators who voted to convict former President Donald Trump during his second impeachment trial in February 2021, following the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The Louisiana Republican Party censured him for this vote.
In 2025, Cassidy cast the deciding vote as chair of the Senate health committee to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination as Health and Human Services Secretary. Cassidy later expressed disagreement with some of Kennedy's policies and opposed the nomination of Casey Means as surgeon general.
The primary was held under Louisiana's new primary system, which requires voters to request a partisan ballot. The change was supported by Republican Governor Jeff Landry. Cassidy criticized the new system as confusing to voters. The election was also affected by a U.S. Supreme Court decision on the Voting Rights Act, which led to delayed House primaries.
Key Statements
Donald Trump stated on social media that Cassidy's "disloyalty to the man who got him elected is now a part of legend, and it's nice to see that his political career is OVER!" He referred to Letlow and Fleming as "two great people" and reiterated support for Letlow in the runoff.
Senator Bill Cassidy said in his concession speech: "You don't pout, you don't whine, you don't claim that the election was stolen... you don't manufacture some excuse." In a later statement, Cassidy said he felt "great" about his impeachment vote, stating he voted to uphold the constitution. He declined to criticize Trump directly. Cassidy hinted he may not run for office again, stating, "I respect democracy. So right now that door just seems to be shut."
Representative Julia Letlow thanked Trump for his endorsement and said Louisiana voters were not pleased with Cassidy's impeachment vote.
Senator Lindsey Graham said, "You can disagree with President Trump, but if you try to destroy him, you're going to lose."
Senator John Kennedy called Cassidy's loss predictable and thanked him for his service.
Senator Lisa Murkowski expressed regret that Cassidy would not return to the Senate.
Voters cited loyalty to Trump as a key factor in their choice. Some criticized Cassidy for supporting Kennedy's confirmation; others stated they voted for Letlow to avoid conflict with Trump or based solely on his endorsement. One voter supported Fleming, criticizing Cassidy for not blocking Kennedy's nomination.
Broader Context
Cassidy is the first elected Republican senator to lose a primary since 2012. Of the seven Republican senators who voted to convict Trump in 2021, four did not seek reelection. Senator Lisa Murkowski won reelection in 2022, and Senator Susan Collins also won later elections.
Trump has continued to shape the Republican Party, supporting challengers to incumbents who oppose him. This primary defeat is Trump's first against an incumbent Republican senator.