Trump rival Sen. Bill Cassidy loses GOP primary

The Fall of a Political Veteran

Senator Bill Cassidy's re-election bid came to an abrupt end after voters in Louisiana heeded President Donald Trump’s call to remove the two-term Republican from office. In the GOP primary, Cassidy finished third and failed to qualify for the runoff, marking a significant shift in his political career that spanned several decades.

This outcome highlights the president’s influence over the careers of Republicans, even as his approval ratings have dipped and concerns about the Iran war and rising living costs persist. The Associated Press projected that Rep. Julia Letlow, who received Trump’s endorsement, and state Treasurer John Fleming would advance to the June 27 runoff. With no candidate surpassing 50% of the vote, the runoff is expected to be a decisive moment for the future of the seat, which is considered a safe Republican district.

Cassidy, known for his substantial campaign spending, became the first Republican senator to lose in a party primary this election cycle. His challenge was compounded by the fact that he had voted to convict Trump during the second impeachment trial over the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. This decision drew sharp criticism from Trump, who openly expressed his desire for Cassidy to step down. Ahead of the election, Trump reiterated his support for Letlow and labeled Cassidy a “disloyal disaster.”

On Saturday evening, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to announce: “His 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!” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) echoed this sentiment on Fox News, stating that Trump still holds significant sway in the state, calling his endorsement one of the most powerful in political history.

Letlow secured strong support across Louisiana, leading in 52 of the state’s 64 parishes. Trump praised her, saying, “Julia Letlow is a fantastic person and, after taking care of some additional business, will make a brilliant Senator for the Great People of Louisiana.”

Despite his defeat, Cassidy maintained that he worked well with Trump, even after his vote against him. In a concession speech, he said, “This was not the result that I necessarily wanted, but I feel great.” He emphasized the importance of accepting the outcome without bitterness, stating, “You don’t pout, you don’t whine, you don’t claim the election was stolen, you don’t find a reason why. You don’t manufacture some excuse.”

With 99% of the estimated vote counted, Letlow had 45%, Fleming had 28%, and Cassidy had 25%. This result underscores the power of Trump’s endorsements in shaping the political landscape, as seen in the removal of other GOP lawmakers deemed disloyal, such as former Reps. Liz Cheney and Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Trump has also targeted Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who opposed his “one big beautiful bill” and played a role in releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files against Trump’s objections. Massie’s primary race against a Trump-backed challenger is set for Tuesday, with polls showing a tight contest.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.), a Trump ally, suggested that those who oppose Trump’s agenda are likely to face similar fates. He stated, “Those who try to destroy Trump politically, stand in the way of his agenda, are going to lose.” He predicted that Massie would suffer a similar fate to Cassidy.

Cassidy, a physician by trade, ran a well-funded and aggressive campaign, attempting to portray Letlow as liberal based on her past comments about diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. However, these efforts were insufficient to counter the coordinated push by Trump and his allies to remove him from office.

Letlow highlighted the sentiments of voters who felt they needed an alternative, stating, “People were saying, ‘We want an alternative. We do not want him to represent us.’” Her late husband, Luke Letlow, won the House seat in 2020 before passing away from Covid-19 shortly before his swearing-in. Letlow focused her Senate campaign on a message of hope, avoiding direct attacks on Cassidy and Fleming throughout much of the race.

Fleming, who previously served in the U.S. House and joined Trump’s administration, ran as a staunchly pro-Trump candidate, despite not receiving the endorsement. He self-funded his campaign with approximately $10.6 million, according to Federal Election Commission records, and supported attacks on Letlow’s liberal leanings.