According to the Associated Press, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican, discussed with President Trump about supporting a primary challenger against Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA).
The outlet named Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA) as a potential challenger in the primary.
Report: President Trump and Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry have discussed Louisiana Congresswoman Julia Letlow launching a primary challenge to Senator Bill Cassidy in the 2026 Louisiana Republican Senate Primary pic.twitter.com/bwwAmg85Kc
— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) May 12, 2025
From the Associated Press:
The Republican governor’s promotion of a new challenger to Cassidy reflects unease within Trump’s base about the two-term senator. Cassidy voted to convict Trump in Trump’s 2021 impeachment trial over the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. And Cassidy, who is a medical doctor, expressed doubts about Trump’s pick of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the nation’s health secretary before voting to confirm Kennedy.
Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate and have a favorable electoral map in the 2026 midterms to help them keep control. But Cassidy is among several GOP senators up for reelection next year who are facing challenging primaries over past moves to distance themselves from Trump.
For the senator, “the biggest hurdle is going to be the impeachment vote. That’s what he has to overcome. And I don’t think he has the mindset to say, ‘I made a mistake,’” said Eddie Rispone, the Republican nominee for Louisiana governor in 2019 and a Cassidy supporter. “And Louisiana is a big Trump state.”
Landry, a close Trump ally, spoke last month with the president about Letlow as a potential Senate candidate, according to two people with knowledge of the conversation. They were granted anonymity to share contents of a conversation they were not authorized to discuss publicly.
Numerous individuals on social media supported a primary challenge for the Louisiana Republican.
Cassidy is a backstabbing snake. He must be given the Liz Cheney in the primary and lose by 40 points. https://t.co/rSkrJIg4hA
— Catturd
(@catturd2) May 11, 2025
Sen. Cassidy is up for re-election next year in 2026.
MAHA should make removing him from power a top priority.https://t.co/uVN9eKeUNH
— Tom Barry (@tomcbarry) May 10, 2025
Senator @BillCassidy pushed the Covid-19 vaccine more than any member of Congress. Cassidy then went & killed the chances of President @realDonaldTrump’s Director CDC nominee.
Cassidy belongs deep in the pocket of Big Pharma, he doesn’t belong in the Senate, LET US PRIMARY HIM. pic.twitter.com/kzOPuD4dJm
— Bryce Lipscomb
(@BryceMLipscomb) March 16, 2025
WATCH:
We need to primary Bill Cassidy. He is what is hindering RFK Jr’s efforts https://t.co/1H2eDOeffS
— SwampyUniparty (@SwampyUniparty) May 8, 2025
Cassidy already has at least one challenger in next year’s primary.
Meet Bill Cassidy’s Republican Primary rival in Louisiana:
Dr. John Fleming
The 2026 primary just got a bit more interesting!
According to Grok, Fleming has already raised $200k+ and has set aside $2 million for his campaign. pic.twitter.com/RNPZweo6Iw
— Jim Blanton (@JimBlanton01) May 10, 2025
Per NBC News:
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., will face at least one primary challenger in 2026, with Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming announcing Wednesday that he will run for the seat held by the two-term senator, citing Cassidy’s vote to convict Donald Trump after his 2021 impeachment trial.
Fleming, a former member of Congress, said in a statement that Cassidy “has failed the people of Louisiana,”
“A number of Republicans walked away from President Trump in the last year of his first term,” Fleming said, “but those who turned their backs on him and America First were not committed to his fight to make America great. Louisiana citizens did not give up on this fight.”
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