Louisiana Rep. Letlow launches primary challenge to Sen. Cassidy with Trump's backing

Niels Lesniewski and Daniela Altimari, CQ-Roll Call on Jan 20, 2026

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WASHINGTON — Days after picking up President Donald Trump’s endorsement, Louisiana Rep. Julia Letlow launched her campaign for Senate on Tuesday, setting up a Republican primary battle with Sen. Bill Cassidy.

Letlow joins a crowded GOP race to take on Cassidy, who drew Trump’s ire with his vote to convict the president at his second impeachment trial. Her decision poses a second headache for national Republicans, who are also contending with a competitive primary in Texas.

Cassidy, a physician seeking his third Senate term, has the backing of the National Republican Senatorial Committee and campaigned with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., in Louisiana last week.

Letlow first revealed her plans at a breakfast in Baton Rouge hosted by the Greater Baton Rouge Business Report.

“Louisiana deserves a conservative Senator who will not waver. I am honored to have President Trump’s endorsement and trust,” she said on social media shortly afterward.

On Saturday, Trump had pledged his “Complete and Total endorsement” for Letlow, saying on his Truth Social platform, “I know Julia well, have seen her tested at the highest and most difficult levels, and she is a TOTAL WINNER!”

Letlow is currently in her second full term representing Louisiana’s 5th District and serves on the Appropriations and Education and Workforce committees. She was first elected in a 2021 special election for what was to have been the seat of her late husband, Rep.-elect Luke J. Letlow, who died of COVID-19 complications days before he was scheduled to take office.

Senate Republicans are defending a 53-47 majority in this year’s midterm elections, and, by large, have a favorable map heading into November. The Senate race in Louisiana is not expected to be competitive outside the primary in a state Trump carried by 22 points in 2024. Democrats haven’t won a Senate election in the Pelican State since Mary L. Landrieu won a third term in 2008.

Cassidy expressed confidence he would win reelection, disclosing on social media Tuesday that Letlow had called to inform him of her decision.

“She said she respected me and that I had done a good job. I will continue to do a good job when I win re-election,” the senator said.

Cassidy’s campaign announced last week that it had $11 million in the bank at the end of December, raising more than $17 million for his reelection bid. Letlow, who hasn’t yet announced her fourth-quarter fundraising haul, had $2.3 million banked in September in her House campaign account, which she would be able to use for her Senate run.

Cassidy was first elected to Congress in 2008, unseating Democrat Don Cazayoux. He followed a similar path to the Senate six years later, defeating Landrieu by 12 points in a runoff.

In the Senate, he has generally supported Trump’s agenda, including in his role as chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. He provided crucial backing for the contentious nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be Health and Human Services secretary.

He was already facing a crowded Republican primary, with several challengers citing his 2021 vote to convict Trump as a reason to run. The GOP Senate hopefuls include state Treasurer John Fleming, a former congressman; Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta; state Sen. Blake Miguez; state Rep. Julie Emerson and St. Tammany Parish Councilwoman Kathy Seiden. But with Trump’s backing, Letlow enters the race as his top challenger.

Trump has not publicly waded into the Republican primary in Texas, where state Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt are challenging longtime GOP incumbent John Cornyn. Like Cassidy, Cornyn has the backing of Senate Republican leaders.

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—Andrew Menezes contributed to this report.