Letlow, Fleming face off for Cassidy's seat in Louisiana GOP Senate runoff

Washington — Louisianans are voting Saturday successful the state's Republican Senate runoff, arsenic 2 candidates vie to regenerate Sen. Bill Cassidy, who did not person capable votes successful the superior to advance.  

Rep. Julia Letlow and Louisiana authorities Treasurer John Fleming are facing disconnected successful the runoff, aft nary campaigner secured 50% of the ballot successful past month's primary. At the time, Letlow came successful archetypal with much than 44% of the vote, portion Fleming secured 28%. Cassidy, the GOP incumbent, came successful third. 

President Trump encouraged Letlow to situation Cassidy for the spot earlier this twelvemonth aft Cassidy had occasionally clashed with the administration, astir notably with his ballot to convict Mr. Trump successful his impeachment proceedings aft the Jan. 6 onslaught connected the Capitol successful 2021. Cassidy, a aesculapian doctor, had besides been astatine likelihood with the medication implicit HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s leadership, contempt delivering the cardinal ballot to beforehand Kennedy's information past year. 

Cassidy's nonaccomplishment represented a cardinal trial of the powerfulness of the president's endorsement, which besides preceded Sen. John Cornyn's superior nonaccomplishment successful Texas a fewer weeks later. Since losing his primary, the Louisiana Republican has appeared much consenting to interruption with the White House, and sparred with the president astatine a Senate Republican luncheon gathering successful caller days.

Ahead of the primary, Mr. Trump called Cassidy a "disloyal disaster" and endorsed Letlow, whom helium called a "winner who volition NEVER fto you down."

Letlow, 45, has represented Louisiana successful the House since 2021, erstwhile she became the archetypal Republican pistillate from the authorities to beryllium elected to Congress. Fleming worked successful the archetypal Trump medication and besides represented Louisiana successful the House from 2009 to 2017.

The victor of Saturday's runoff volition apt beryllium connected a glidepath to the Senate. Louisiana is simply a solidly reddish authorities wherever Mr. Trump won 60% of the ballot successful 2024. The authorities past elected a Democrat to the Senate successful 2008.

In:

• Louisiana