Trump-backed Letlow and Fleming Trigger Senate Runoff After Louisiana Voters Reject All Five Amendments

U.S. Senate Race in Louisiana Moves to Runoff

In a significant development during the weekend, U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow and Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming advanced to a Republican runoff for the U.S. Senate seat. This outcome marked the end of incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy’s campaign for another term, following one of Louisiana’s first major closed-party primary elections.

The runoff will determine the Republican nominee in a race that has captured national attention. Letlow received the endorsement of President Donald Trump, who had previously criticized Cassidy for his vote to convict Trump during his second impeachment trial. According to unofficial results, Cassidy finished behind both Letlow and Fleming.

Trump Celebrates Cassidy's Loss

President Donald Trump expressed his satisfaction with the election results on social media. In a post Saturday night, he declared that Cassidy’s political career is “OVER” and called the election result a “Big Victory.” Trump criticized Cassidy for his vote to convict him during the impeachment trial and thanked Louisiana voters for their decision.

In another social media message, Trump congratulated Letlow on her advancement in the race, stating she would “make a brilliant Senator for the Great People of Louisiana.” He praised Letlow as “a spectacular person” and assured that she “will never let you down.”

Letlow Addresses Supporters

After advancing to the Senate runoff, Letlow addressed her supporters Saturday night. She began her speech by thanking Trump for his endorsement. Flanked by her two children, Letlow criticized Cassidy for his vote to convict Trump during the second impeachment trial.

“This is not my seat, it’s the people’s seat,” Letlow said, according to Piper Hutchinson of the Louisiana Illuminator. “Unfortunately, I believe he forgot that when he took that vote that he should not have, and Louisiana did not forget.”

Letlow added that Louisiana voters saw Cassidy’s impeachment vote as a sign that “he had turned his back on Louisiana voters.”

Louisiana's New Closed-Primary System

Saturday’s election was one of the first major tests of Louisiana’s new closed-primary system for certain races, including U.S. Senate, state Supreme Court, Public Service Commission, and Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. The system caused confusion and delays at some polling locations, especially for voters registered with no party affiliation. These voters had to fill out a form at the polls choosing whether to vote in the Democratic or Republican primary. Registered Republicans could only vote in the GOP primary, while registered Democrats could only vote in the Democratic primary.

Voters also rejected all five proposed constitutional amendments:

• Amendment One would have allowed the Legislature to add or remove officers, positions, and employees from the unclassified state civil service system.
• Amendment Two would have granted the St. George Community School System in East Baton Rouge Parish the authority to operate.
• Amendment Three would have turned $2,200 teacher stipends into permanent pay raises by dissolving three state education trust funds and using the money to pay down teacher retirement debt.
• Amendment Four would have allowed parishes to reduce or eliminate property taxes on business inventory, but only if the sheriff, school board, and parish governing authority approved.
• Amendment Five would have changed the mandatory retirement age for judges from 70 to 75.

Other Election Results

Louisiana’s U.S. House races were not on Saturday’s ballot. Secretary of State Nancy Landry stated that those races were canceled and moved to the fall open primary election cycle after legal action involving Louisiana’s congressional map. All other races and propositions scheduled for May 16 continued as planned.

In other races, William Burris won the Republican primary for state Supreme Court District 1, defeating Blair Downing Edwards. In St. Tammany Parish, Thomas Williams won the Slidell police chief race over Brian Nicaud. In Jefferson Parish, Michael Glaser won the Kenner mayor’s race over Diane Schnell and Walt Bennetti.