Rep. Julia Letlow won Louisiana’s Republican Senate runoff on Saturday, defeating state Treasurer John Fleming and securing the GOP nomination for the seat left open by ousted Sen. Bill Cassidy, according to Politico and NBC News.
Letlow’s victory marks another success for President Trump’s endorsement power in the 2026 primary season. Trump had backed Letlow early and made a final appeal to Louisiana Republicans on Friday, calling her a “Great Star.” Her win follows Trump’s decisive influence in May, when Republican voters in Louisiana rejected Cassidy—one of the few remaining GOP senators who voted to convict Trump after January 6—eliminating him in the first round of voting.
In that May primary, Letlow finished first with 45 percent of the vote while Fleming secured 28 percent, setting up the Saturday runoff. Cassidy’s third-place finish and elimination marked a rare primary defeat for a Senate incumbent, according to reporting from The New York Times. Trump had directly targeted Cassidy, criticizing him for the impeachment vote and backing Letlow’s challenge.
Beyond Trump’s endorsement, Letlow was lifted by backing from Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, according to Politico. Landry actively campaigned for her, dispatching his staff to her campaign and pressuring donors to support her bid. Letlow also built strong fundraising numbers and earned support from Louisiana business leaders, Politico reported.
Fleming, a former House Freedom Caucus founder who served in roles during Trump’s first term, had attempted to position himself as a Trump ally despite not receiving the president’s endorsement. Both he and Cassidy had attacked Letlow over comments she made in a 2020 video where she spoke in support of diversity initiatives while interviewing for a job as president of the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Letlow has since disavowed those programs.
In deep-red Louisiana, Letlow will almost certainly win the general election in November, according to Politico. She became the first Republican woman to represent Louisiana in the House when she won a special election in March 2021 to fill the seat of her deceased husband, Luke Letlow, who died from COVID-19 in December 2020 shortly before he was scheduled to take office.
Sources
- Politico — Letlow’s runoff victory, Trump endorsement, Landry’s support, and November outlook
- NBC News — Runoff results and election coverage
- The New York Times — May primary results, Cassidy’s elimination, and Trump’s influence
