Washington — Rep. Julia Letlow gained the Republican major runoff for Senate in Louisiana, the Related Press projected Saturday, defeating Louisiana state Treasurer John Fleming to interchange Sen. Invoice Cassidy, who didn’t obtain sufficient votes within the major to advance.
The competition went to a runoff after no candidate secured 50% of the vote in final month’s major, the place incumbent Sen. Invoice Cassidy was eradicated.
President Trump inspired Letlow to problem Cassidy for the seat earlier this 12 months, after Cassidy had often clashed with the administration, most notably together with his vote to convict Mr. Trump in his impeachment trial after the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol in 2021. Forward of the first, Mr. Trump known as Cassidy a “disloyal catastrophe” and endorsed Letlow, whom he known as a “winner who will NEVER allow you to down.”
“Nice Information!!! Julia Letlow WON in Louisiana, beating conclusively a really robust and good opponent. Congratulations to Julia. She will probably be a really GREAT Senator!” Mr. Trump mentioned in a Reality Social submit Saturday night time.
Letlow has represented Louisiana within the Home since 2021, when she grew to become the primary Republican lady from the state to be elected to Congress. She gained the particular election for Louisiana’s fifth Congressional District following the demise of her husband, who died in 2020 from problems associated to COVID-19 earlier than he may very well be sworn into workplace.
The 45-year-old has touted her endorsement from Mr. Trump within the race and pledged to help his agenda within the Senate. She solid Fleming, who labored within the first Trump administration and in addition represented Louisiana within the Home, as a profession politician out of step with Louisianans. And earlier within the major, she hammered Cassidy as disloyal to the GOP, claiming Louisiana “should not need to surprise how our senator will vote when the stress’s on.”
Cassidy had additionally been at odds with the administration over HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s management, regardless of delivering the important thing vote to advance Kennedy’s nomination final 12 months. Since shedding his major, the Louisiana Republican has appeared extra prepared to interrupt with the White Home, and sparred with the president at a Senate Republican lunch assembly in current days.
With Saturday’s runoff victory, Letlow is probably going on a glidepath to the Senate. Louisiana is a solidly crimson state the place Mr. Trump gained 60% of the vote in 2024. The state final elected a Democrat to the Senate in 2008.
