Even though he wasn’t on the ballot, Donald Trump emerged victorious in Louisiana’s Republican Senate runoff election. This was thanks to U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, who, backed by Trump, beat state Treasurer John Fleming to secure the Republican nomination.
Letlow captured a significant amount of support from Republican voters in this reliably red state, just weeks after they denied a third term to Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, who was a target of Trump. Her win in the runoff election is seen as yet another triumph for Trump, who has been trying to fill Congress with loyal supporters as he approaches the end of his presidential term. This outcome further demonstrates the strength of Trump’s backing in the Republican primary electorate.
In a twist of fate, Cassidy, who faced a second impeachment in Congress just five years ago, was ousted.
Letlow, with support from Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry—an influential Trump ally—had previously won her congressional seat in 2021 after her husband, Luke Letlow, who held that position and passed away shortly before she was supposed to be sworn in. Throughout her Senate campaign, she emphasized her connection to Trump.
The primary saw Letlow outperform Fleming, who had previously served in Congress and as Trump’s White House chief of staff, by a substantial margin. With no candidate clinching 50% of the vote, Letlow and Fleming headed to the runoff. This incident marked the first time since 2012 that a Republican senator has faced such a defeat, highlighting Cassidy’s political decline.
After conceding, Cassidy addressed his supporters, noting that participation in democracy doesn’t always lead to favorable outcomes, but “you don’t pout or make excuses.”
Letlow is considered a strong contender in the upcoming midterm elections against either Jamie Davis, a farmer, or Navy veteran Gary Crockett, both of whom she will face in a Democratic runoff.
Trump’s endorsement has been evident over the past couple of months in various Republican primaries, unseating incumbents not only in Louisiana but also in places like Indiana, Kentucky, and Texas. However, his influence hit a snag recently when his late endorsement for Iowa Republican Rep. Randy Feenstra fell short in a bid to replace outgoing Gov. Kim Reynolds.
In South Carolina, Trump found vindication when Lieutenant Governor Pam Evette won the Republican gubernatorial primary, alongside Sen. Lindsey Graham, who also maintained a solid majority, thus avoiding a runoff.
Despite a few setbacks, where his endorsed candidates faced fierce competition, including a billionaire-backed opponent in Georgia and Alabama, there have been significant victories. Rep. Barry Moore, a long-time Trump supporter, triumphed in Alabama’s Republican Senate runoffs, while Trump’s endorsement helped Rep. Mike Collins secure a win over former college football coach Derek Dooley.
In another race, Trump-backed candidate Anthony Constantino won the upstate New York seat vacated by Rep. Elise Stefanik. Meanwhile, in South Carolina, Trump could hardly afford any missteps, as his endorsed Attorney General Alan Wilson achieved a decisive victory in his runoff.
