President Donald Trump and Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry have discussed the potential challenge of U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow against U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy in the upcoming Republican primary, as reported by several sources familiar with the situation. The Governor’s support for a new contender against Cassidy highlights concerns within Trump’s support base regarding the two-term senator. Cassidy’s decision to convict Trump in the 2021 impeachment trial related to the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, and his skepticism towards Trump’s choice of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the health secretary have caused unease among Republicans.
Despite the Republican Party holding a 53-47 majority in the Senate and having a favorable electoral landscape for the 2026 midterms, Cassidy and other GOP senators facing reelection next year are encountering challenging primaries due to past actions distancing themselves from Trump. Eddie Rispone, the 2019 Republican gubernatorial nominee in Louisiana and a Cassidy supporter, acknowledges that Cassidy’s impeachment vote poses a significant obstacle that he must address, especially in a state with strong Trump support.
Landry, a staunch Trump supporter, recently discussed Letlow as a potential Senate candidate with the President. Letlow, a three-term Republican representative from northeast Louisiana, has been encouraged by Landry to consider running for the Senate. Landry’s advocacy for Letlow is based on the belief that a Republican candidate stands a good chance of winning the seat in Louisiana, where Trump secured 60% of the vote in the previous election.
While Landry and Cassidy may not have a close relationship, they maintain a respectful working dynamic despite differing levels of loyalty to Trump, which can influence support from the party base in the state. Cassidy’s spokesperson expressed confidence in the senator’s track record of delivering conservative outcomes for Louisiana and believes voters will re-elect him in the upcoming election.
Letlow, who succeeded her late husband in Congress, holds a seat on the influential House Appropriations Committee and represents a district that has evolved due to recent redistricting. Cassidy, who already faces competition from Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming, encountered backlash from some Republican activists in the state for his impeachment vote, leading to censure motions in certain party committees.
Overall, the political landscape in Louisiana sets the stage for a competitive Republican primary as different factions within the party navigate their allegiances and priorities in the upcoming election cycle.
Resignation looms over Cassidy as Trump publicly criticizes him once again. Trump’s disdain for Cassidy resurfaced last year when the senator denounced Trump’s promise to pardon Capitol riot convicts. In a Truth Social post from April 2024, Trump labeled Cassidy as “one of the worst Senators in the United States Senate” and a “disloyal lightweight.” Cassidy faces a new challenge with Louisiana’s revised congressional primary election system. Unlike the previous jungle primaries where all candidates competed on the same ballot, now only voters with Republican affiliation or no party affiliation can participate in the GOP Senate primary. This change poses a potential obstacle for Cassidy, who previously benefited from the nonpartisan nature of the old system. Despite this, Cassidy holds a significant fundraising advantage with over $7.4 million in his campaign account. He is actively laying the groundwork for his campaign and is expected to formally announce his candidacy soon. In a surprising turn of events, Trump recently acknowledged Cassidy at an economic event in the White House, signaling a possible thaw in their strained relationship.
