In a Republican Senate primary runoff held on Saturday, Louisiana Rep. Julia Letlow, backed by Trump, achieved victory over state Treasurer John Fleming. This event reflects the growing influence of the presidential primary.
As the votes were counted, Letlow gained over 55%, while Fleming managed about 45%, securing her position as the Republican nominee for the upcoming November election.
Trump had endorsed Letlow in January, prior to the May primary. She was elected in 2021 to take over for her late husband, Luke, who passed away due to COVID-19 complications. Letlow previously managed to unseat incumbent Senator Bill Cassidy in a contentious three-way race.
The competition with Fleming sharpened as polls showed her leading after the primary.
On the Democratic side, Jamie Davis won his party’s nomination with over 78% of the vote against Gary Crockett, who garnered only 21%.
Trump has had ongoing conflicts with Cassidy, especially after Cassidy voted for impeachment in 2021, citing “incitement of insurrection” related to the January 6 Capitol riot. Interestingly, Cassidy also played a pivotal role in confirming Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Trump has not held back in criticizing Cassidy, labeling him “dishonest” and declaring his political career “over.”
Just last week, tensions flared again when Cassidy and several other Republican senators voted against Trump during a private Senate lunch concerning Iran war powers.
At 74, Fleming has a lengthy career, having served in Congress from 2009 to 2017, and acting as White House deputy chief of staff at the close of Trump’s first term.
Both candidates align with conservative values and quickly established their support for Trump’s agenda.
Despite Trump’s backing, he often labeled himself a “MAGA conservative” during the campaign, even critiquing Letlow for her earlier advocacy of diversity and inclusion initiatives.
In the final stretch of the campaign, Trump ramped up his online support for Letlow, calling her “a highly respected America’s First Congresswoman” and “a total winner” – phrases that certainly spotlight her in a favorable light.
In the initial May primary, Letlow outperformed Fleming by a margin of 45% to 28%, while Cassidy received just 25% of the votes.
Recent opinion polls indicate an increasingly tight race, which some predict will see low voter turnout.
Interestingly, reports mention that Trump’s approval rating has soared to 98%, although it’s worth noting that this figure may include candidates running unopposed. In various races, he sometimes made his moves after a candidate had already established a lead.
