Cassidy’s Political Career Comes to an End in Louisiana Primary

A Republican senator known for opposing former President Donald Trump has concluded his time in office. On Saturday, during Louisiana’s primary election, voters decided against granting Sen. Bill Cassidy a third term.

With 99% of the votes counted, Representative Julia Letlow, backed by Trump, led with 44.8%, followed by Treasury Secretary John Fleming at 28.3%. Letlow and Fleming are set to compete in a runoff on June 27th.

“Thank you, Louisiana! Tonight, we demonstrated our readiness for strong conservative leadership that will never waver,” Letlow expressed in a post on X.

Fleming also shared his optimism, saying, “We will win this election for the people of Louisiana,” in an early Sunday morning pledge.

In stark contrast, Cassidy finished a distant third with only 24.8% of the vote. Reflecting on the outcome, he stated, “When you participate in a democracy, sometimes things don’t go your way… But you don’t pout or make excuses.” Cassidy thanked his constituents for the opportunity to represent them.

Public opinion polls hinted at Cassidy’s impending defeat, particularly following a February survey showing him lagging behind both Letlow and Fleming.

The rift between Cassidy and Trump has likely played a significant role in this political turn. Cassidy had previously won re-election in 2020 with Trump’s strong backing. However, in February 2021, he was one of seven Republican senators who voted to convict Trump over the events of January 6th.

Since that pivotal moment, the political landscape in Louisiana has shifted, seemingly not in Cassidy’s favor. The Republican Governor, Jeff Landry, closely allied with Trump, enacted legislation establishing closed primary elections in the state.

Looking ahead, the runoff candidates will face off against the winners of the Democratic race between Jamie Davis and Gary Crockett in November.