{"id":2604181,"date":"2026-05-18T18:43:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T22:43:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/john-thune-stays-neutral-after-cassidy-loses-shot-at-senate-runoff\/"},"modified":"2026-05-18T18:44:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T22:44:12","slug":"john-thune-stays-neutral-after-cassidy-loses-shot-at-senate-runoff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/john-thune-stays-neutral-after-cassidy-loses-shot-at-senate-runoff\/","title":{"rendered":"John Thune stays neutral after Cassidy loses shot at Senate 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\">22<\/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%2Fjohn-thune-stays-neutral-after-cassidy-loses-shot-at-senate-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=2604181&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>Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he won\u2019t take sides in teh Louisiana Senate runoff between Rep. Julia Letlow and State Treasurer John Fleming after Bill Cassidy failed to advance. Thune indicated the decision should be left to voters, noting Cassidy is a \u201cprincipled conservative\u201d and that Louisiana Republicans had clearly spoken.<\/p>\n<p>Thune previously endorsed Cassidy and tried to align with President Donald Trump, but Trump opted to back Letlow after taking issue with Cassidy\u2019s 2021 impeachment vote. In the primary, Letlow finished first, while Fleming beat Cassidy for second place, sending the race to a runoff under Louisiana\u2019s election rules.Thune also pointed to polling that showed Cassidy trailing.<\/p>\n<p>The National Republican Senatorial Committee has not yet weighed in on the runoff, while House Majority Leader Steve Scalise endorsed Letlow. Cassidy\u2019s loss arrives as Thune faces political friction over a controversial <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >immigration enforcement<\/a> bill tied to expanded funding for Trump\u2019s East Wing ballroom project, with Cassidy positioned as a potential complication despite Thune calling him a \u201cteam player.\u201d  <\/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>Senate Majority Leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-thune\/\">John Thune<\/a> (R-SD) won\u2019t be taking sides after Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bill-cassidy\/\">Bill Cassidy<\/a> (R-LA) failed to make a June 27 runoff for his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/louisiana\/\">Louisiana<\/a> Senate seat.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot weighing in on that,\u201d Thune told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> when asked if he had a preference between Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA) and State Treasurer John Fleming, the two candidates who <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4571020\/cassidy-loses-reelection-campaign\/\">defeated Cassidy<\/a> in Saturday night\u2019s primary.<\/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\/house\/4572917\/stick-their-necks-out-massie-allies-risk-wrath-campaign\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>\u2018Sticking their neck out\u2019: Massie\u2019s allies risk Trump\u2019s wrath by campaigning for him<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4573446\/john-cornyn-trump-no-endorsement-texas-senate-runoff\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Cornyn claims Trump won\u2019t endorse in Texas Senate runoff<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4572488\/ed-gallrein-thomas-massie-kentucky\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Who is Ed Gallrein? Navy SEAL and farmer who could oust Thomas Massie in Kentucky<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ll see how it plays out, but at this point, it\u2019s going to be up to the voters,\u201d Thune said Monday.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>As an incumbent, Thune had endorsed Cassidy for reelection and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3927050\/thune-trump-endorsement-power-protect-senate-majority\/\">tried to get<\/a> President Donald Trump on board as well. But the president, upset at Cassidy\u2019s 2021 impeachment vote, instead encouraged Letlow to run and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cameron-tiptoes-around-obamacare-in-bid-to-replace-mcconnell\/\" title=\"Cameron tiptoes around Obamacare in bid to ...lace McConnell\">preemptively endorsed<\/a> her. The race became a referendum on Cassidy\u2019s perceived disloyalty to the president as a result.<\/p>\n<p>On election night, Letlow placed first with 45% of the vote, while Fleming beat Cassidy for second place, receiving 28% support to Cassidy\u2019s 25%. Under Louisiana law, the top two finishers advance to a runoff if no one earns an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/niger-heads-to-polls-in-search-of-first-democratic-transition\/\" title=\"Niger heads to polls in search of first democratic transition\">outright majority<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>When asked about the outcome, Thune called Cassidy a \u201cvery principled conservative, very independent thinker\u201d and alluded to polling that consistently showed him placing second or third in the primary.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe probably knew the challenges he was up against in that race, and the way it turned out, obviously the Republican voters in Louisiana have spoken, and so we\u2019ll move on,\u201d Thune said.<\/p>\n<p>Cassidy was also backed by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which has so far not waded into the runoff. On Monday, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) endorsed Letlow, calling her a \u201cstrong conservative fighter who has consistently delivered for Louisiana families, and for President Trump.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cassidy\u2019s loss comes at a precarious time for Thune, who is trying to pass a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republican-senators-threaten-to-sink-bipartisan-infrastructure-plan-after-bidens-ultimatum\/\" title=\"...ublican Senators Threaten To Sink Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan After Biden\u2019s Ultimatum\">party-line bill<\/a> on immigration enforcement that became controversial for Republicans over the millions added to secure Trump\u2019s East Wing ballroom project.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4571020\/cassidy-loses-reelection-campaign\/\"><strong>CASSIDY LOSES SHOT AT REELECTION AS LOUISIANA SENATE RACE HEADS TO RUNOFF<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Cassidy is one of several Republicans who are noncommittal on approving those funds and could present a roadblock for GOP leadership in other ways as chairman of the Senate\u2019s health and labor committee, though Thune on Monday called him a \u201cteam player.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s got several months here in which he can be a real force for change and a factor in trying to get some things done,\u201d Thune said. \u201cWe look forward to continuing to work with him, and we\u2019ll proceed accordingly.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Thune won\u2019t take sides in Louisiana runoff after Cassidy\u2019s defeat<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2651,"featured_media":2604182,"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\/2025\/12\/AP25311667838832-e1764700766785.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[6677,44946,8382,5894,79800],"class_list":["post-2604181","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-cassidy","tag-john-thune","tag-neutral","tag-politics","tag-senate-runoff"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25311667838832-e1764700766785.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604181","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=2604181"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604181\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2604185,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604181\/revisions\/2604185"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2604182"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2604181"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2604181"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2604181"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}