Congresswoman Julia Letlow and Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming are facing off in a Republican Senate runoff Saturday in Louisiana, with President Donald Trump’s backing giving Letlow an edge despite recent polling showing a tightening race.
Letlow earned 45 percent of the vote in May’s primary, while Fleming finished second with 28 percent, according to Ballotpedia. The runoff advances the two top finishers after incumbent Senator Bill Cassidy failed to win outright, marking one of Trump’s most significant primary victories this cycle.
Trump appeared on a tele-town hall for Letlow on Thursday evening, urging supporters to “get out and vote for Julia Letlow. She’s fantastic. She’s going to do a great job,” according to Politico. Letlow also carries the endorsement of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry. Her campaign has emphasized her record of delivering results and her alignment with Trump’s agenda.
Fleming, a 74-year-old physician and entrepreneur who owns dozens of Subway restaurants, has positioned himself as the more consistently conservative choice. A former congressman and Trump administration official who served as White House deputy chief of staff, Fleming has nearly entirely self-funded his campaign with $11 million of his own money. He has distributed over 20,000 yard signs and assembled hundreds of volunteers, according to Politico.
Recent polling has narrowed the gap significantly from the May primary. A Fleming internal poll showed him leading by five points, while a poll conducted by a Letlow supporter had her ahead by two points, according to Politico. The shift reflects Fleming’s argument that he represents a purer form of Trump-aligned conservatism, with his campaign slogan stating he was “MAGA before MAGA was cool.”
Turnout in Saturday’s election is forecast to be strikingly low. Low-turnout GOP runoff races typically benefit the most-conservative candidates with the most devoted followings, which could favor Fleming, according to Politico. Letlow carried 52 of 64 parishes in the first round of voting and has built a reputation as a disciplined messenger during her swift rise in Louisiana politics.
The race has grown increasingly bitter, with Fleming releasing an AI-produced video showing a fake version of Letlow mentioning her deceased husband, who died from COVID shortly after his 2020 election to the seat Letlow now holds. Letlow fired back calling the spot “unconscionable” and accusing Fleming of making “a spectacle” of her husband’s death, according to Politico.
Sources
- Politico — Fleming’s campaign strategy, Trump’s tele-town hall for Letlow, polling trends, campaign financing, and details of the AI video controversy
- Ballotpedia — Primary vote percentages for Letlow (45%) and Fleming (28%), and runoff date confirmation
- Louisiana Treasury (.gov) — Fleming’s background as state treasurer, physician, and military veteran
- The New York Times — Context on Cassidy’s defeat in May primary
