Rep. Julia Letlow announced Tuesday that she will challenge Sen. Bill Cassidy in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Louisiana. Her entrance immediately reshapes the race, putting a high-profile incumbent on defense in a state President Donald Trump carried by 22 points in 2024.
Letlow has served in Congress since 2021. She entered office after the death of her husband, Rep.-elect Luke Letlow, who died of COVID-19 before taking office. She made the announcement at an annual business event in Baton Rouge attended by state leaders. Cassidy was also in the room, according to attendees.
Trump moved to upend the contest over the weekend, publicly encouraging Letlow to run and offering an early endorsement. On Truth Social, Trump wrote that Letlow would have his “complete and total endorsement” if she entered the race.
Cassidy is seeking a third Senate term but has faced ongoing criticism from Trump. The president has repeatedly targeted Cassidy for voting to convict him in the 2021 impeachment trial tied to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Cassidy has also clashed with the administration on health care policy at times, though he supported the confirmation of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. last year.
Letlow’s candidacy adds pressure to Cassidy as he faces other challengers, including Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming. Fleming has positioned himself as a MAGA-aligned alternative and has reported strong cash figures. Some reporting suggests part of his financial strength reflects large self-funded loans that he cycles in and out of campaign accounts.
Senate Republican leadership has continued to support Cassidy. Majority Leader John Thune recently campaigned with him in Louisiana. However, Trump’s early endorsement of Letlow complicates the party’s strategy and increases the likelihood of a bruising primary. Letlow, a close ally of House Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Steve Scalise, is expected to consolidate support quickly. Her challenge sets up a high-stakes test of Trump’s influence in the Senate battlefield and in the Republican Party.
Gambit Forecaster’s most recent model shows Republicans strongly favored to maintain their 53-47 Senate majority, with Democrats picking up Maine but losing Michigan. In that forecast, Democrats win the Senate about 9.96% of the time overall, which tells you something important: the path exists, but it is narrow. View State Watch page here.
This article was written by Sam Massey.