{"id":2603593,"date":"2026-05-16T23:26:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T03:26:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cassidy-loses-shot-at-reelection-as-louisiana-senate-race-heads-to-runoff\/"},"modified":"2026-05-16T23:27:35","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T03:27:35","slug":"cassidy-loses-shot-at-reelection-as-louisiana-senate-race-heads-to-runoff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cassidy-loses-shot-at-reelection-as-louisiana-senate-race-heads-to-runoff\/","title":{"rendered":"Cassidy loses shot at reelection as Louisiana Senate race heads to runoff"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcassidy-loses-shot-at-reelection-as-louisiana-senate-race-heads-to-runoff%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2603593&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Louisiana will have a new U.S. senator next year after incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) lost his reelection bid in the Republican primary.Cassidy finished third with 24.6% of the vote, making him ineligible for the June 27 runoff-an unusual defeat for an incumbent, since it marked the first time in nearly a decade that a sitting senator lost a GOP primary.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Julia Letlow, backed by Donald Trump, topped the field with 44.9%, while state Treasurer John Fleming placed second with 28.4%. Under Louisiana law, a runoff is triggered when no <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/its-the-effing-progressives-democrats-complain-about-infighting\/\" title=\"&#039;It\u2019s the Effing Progressives,&#039; Democrats Complain About Infighting\">candidate wins<\/a> a majority in the primary, so Letlow and Fleming will face off for the GOP nomination.<\/p>\n<p>The loss is framed as a major win for Trump, who had urged Letlow to challenge Cassidy after Cassidy\u2019s 2021 impeachment vote against Trump. Trump openly celebrated Cassidy\u2019s defeat and linked it to Cassidy\u2019s perceived disloyalty. cassidy, in conceding, said he felt \u201cgreat,\u201d congratulated both winners, and criticized the tendency to claim elections were stolen rather than accepting voters\u2019 decisions.<\/p>\n<p>The runoff is expected to decide who wins Louisiana\u2019s reliably republican Senate seat. Letlow and Fleming are both viewed as strong contenders, with the campaign surroundings shaped by Louisiana\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >newly changed primary rules-rules<\/a> that limited voting to Republicans-and by outside conservative efforts, including funding aligned with the \u201cMake America Healthy Again\u201d movement that supported Letlow. Despite Cassidy outspending his rivals earlier in the race and predicting he would reach the runoff, polling had consistently shown him lagging behind or near third place.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/louisiana\/\">Louisiana<\/a> will have a new senator next year after Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bill-cassidy\/\">Bill Cassidy<\/a> (R-LA), saddled by his 2021 impeachment vote against President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a>, lost his campaign for a third term on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>In a dramatic fall from political grace, Cassidy placed third in a primary for the seat he\u2019s held since 2015, disqualifying him from a runoff that will be held on June 27.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4571020\/cassidy-loses-reelection-campaign\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Cassidy loses shot at reelection as Louisiana Senate race heads to runoff<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4571519\/trump-cassidy-disloyal-disaster-clobbered-primary-election\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump calls Cassidy \u2018a disloyal disaster\u2019 who will get \u2018CLOBBERED\u2019 in primary election<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4569486\/bill-cassidy-political-future-hangs-in-the-balance\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Bill Cassidy\u2019s political future hangs in the balance<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA), the Trump-backed candidate, placed first when the race was called shortly after 10:50 p.m., receiving 44.9% of the vote, while state Treasurer John Fleming placed second with 28.4%.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Under Louisiana law, a runoff for the top two finishers occurs when none of the candidates win an outright majority. Cassidy attracted just 24.6% support, making him the first incumbent senator to lose a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pro-trump-religious-groups-begin-turning-up-heat-on-gop-to-take-action-on-marjorie-taylor-greene\/\" title=\"Pro-..., Religious Groups Begin Turning Up Heat On GOP To Take Action On Marjorie Taylor Greene\">primary race<\/a> in almost a decade.<\/p>\n<p>His defeat represents a major victory for Trump, who had <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4423074\/trump-endorses-potential-cassidy-challenger-senate-race\/\">personally encouraged<\/a> Letlow to challenge Cassidy and offered her his endorsement in January.<\/p>\n<p>That endorsement <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4424694\/bill-cassidy-challenger-trump-preferred-gop-senate-candidate\/\">failed to clear the primary field<\/a> \u2013 Fleming, a former deputy chief of staff during Trump\u2019s first term, effectively divided the anti-Cassidy vote. But the president achieved his ultimate goal, ousting Cassidy over his perceived disloyalty.<\/p>\n<p>Trump congratulated Letlow on Saturday night, predicting \u201cshe will make a brilliant Senator\u201d in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/116587615659706793\">Truth Social post<\/a>. The president fumed at Cassidy in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/116587648609362496\">subsequent statement<\/a> focusing on the impeachment vote, cast in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHis disloyalty to the man who got him elected is now a part of legend, and it\u2019s nice to see that his political career is OVER!\u201d Trump said. \u201cI\u2019d like to thank the Great People of the State of Louisiana, and this Big Victory will only make me work even harder for your success, and all that comes with it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In a speech conceding from the race, Cassidy said he felt \u201c<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/PatrickSvitek\/status\/2055843311173144798?s=20\">great<\/a>\u201d and that he\u2019d called both Letlow and Fleming to congratulate them on their victory. Cassidy also <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/mychaelschnell\/status\/2055843939060462070?s=20\">took a jab<\/a> at the president.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen you participate in democracy, sometimes it doesn\u2019t turn out the way you want it to,\u201d Cassidy said. \u201cBut you don\u2019t pout, you don\u2019t whine, you don\u2019t claim the election was stolen, you don\u2019t find a reason, you don\u2019t manufacture some excuse. You thank the voters for the privilege of representing the state or the country for as long as you\u2019ve had that privilege, and that\u2019s what I\u2019m doing right now.\u201d<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/mychaelschnell\/status\/2055843939060462070\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Letlow and Fleming will now compete for the GOP nomination, a prize that is expected to guarantee one of them their first Senate term. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the race in Louisiana as <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cookpolitical.com\/ratings\/senate-race-ratings\">solidly Republican<\/a>, and Trump won there comfortably in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>Letlow, who won a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/latest-poll-majority-of-americans-want-republican-party-to-control-the-senate-sean-hannity\/\" title=\"LATEST POLL: Majority of Americans Want ...ublican Party to Control the Senate | Sean Hannity\">special election<\/a> in 2021 to represent the House seat <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/2994906\/house-passes-louisiana-post-office-luke-letlow\/\">held by her late husband<\/a>, has leaned heavily into her Trump endorsement on the campaign trail. Fleming, a former congressman and founding member of the Freedom Caucus, has framed himself as the true conservative in the race. Both are seen as competitive heading into the runoff.<\/p>\n<p>For months, Cassidy tried to overcome his impeachment vote. As a physician and chairman of the Senate\u2019s health panel, Cassidy aligned himself with the White House on priorities such as healthcare reform and cast the deciding vote in favor of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. despite misgivings over his vaccine skepticism.<\/p>\n<p>The overtures were not enough, however, to win over Trump, who has embarked on a revenge tour to punish electorally those who have crossed him. And since he lost the endorsement, Cassidy has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4474863\/trump-nominee-presents-latest-challenge-for-cassidy\/\">grown<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4567610\/bill-cassidy-fda-chief-drug-medical-device-experience\/\">more critical<\/a> of the administration.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this month, the president\u2019s allies <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4557093\/trump-indiana-trouble-massie-cassidy-election\/\">successfully ousted<\/a> several of the Indiana Republicans who refused to redraw the state\u2019s House map. The next test will come on Tuesday, when Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) tries to fend off a Trump-backed challenger in Kentucky\u2019s House primaries.<\/p>\n<p>Massie has been an unreliable vote in the House and frustrated the White House with his focus on the Epstein files.<\/p>\n<p>Cassidy has stared down a tough primary ever since Gov. Jeff Landry (R-LA) spearheaded an overhaul of how primaries are conducted in Louisiana, and Saturday was the first election testing the new system. Previously, Cassidy had benefitted from open jungle primaries that allowed Democrats to participate, but the change meant only Republican voters could now cast their ballot.<\/p>\n<p>The move was seen as an effort to diminish Cassidy\u2019s chances, as Landry has taken an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/05\/14\/jeff-landry-louisiana-senate-race-letlow-00922157\">outsize role<\/a> in attempting to defeat Cassidy. The governor has since endorsed Letlow in the race and encouraged donors to back her.<\/p>\n<p>Cassidy also faced headwinds from the Make America Healthy Again movement, which committed $1 million to backing Letlow through the Kennedy-aligned <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/02\/09\/us\/politics\/maha-cassidy-primary-louisiana.html\">MAHA PAC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In terms of spending, Cassidy and his allies dwarfed the competition, airing the lion\u2019s share of the $35 million that was poured into the race, and as recently as this week, Cassidy had predicted he would make the runoff. Still, polling ahead of the primary <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpolling.com\/polls\/senate\/republican-primary\/2026\/louisiana\">consistently showed<\/a> him in second or third place.<\/p>\n<p>The Senate primary took place Saturday <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4554546\/cassidy-says-governor-backed-trump-rival-by-not-moving-primary\/\">even as Louisiana delayed<\/a> a spate of House races in the middle of early voting. The decision by Landry came after a Supreme Court ruling on redistricting that is expected to pave the way for the state to redraw its House map.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cassidy loses Louisiana Senate primary, will be out in 2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2651,"featured_media":2603594,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26128041975910-e1778874307595.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[6677,65174,79800],"class_list":["post-2603593","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-cassidy","tag-louisiana-politics","tag-senate-runoff"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26128041975910-e1778874307595.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2603593","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2651"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2603593"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2603593\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2603597,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2603593\/revisions\/2603597"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2603594"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2603593"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2603593"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2603593"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}