Louisiana Republicans to pick Senate nominee in runoff

Louisiana Republicans are heading to a primary runoff election Saturday to select their nominee for the U.S. Senate. This vote comes six weeks after they denied incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy a chance at a third term. While President Donald Trump has already seen one of his key political objectives met with Cassidy's defeat, this runoff could further highlight his sway over Republican primaries as he seeks to fill congressional seats with his allies.

The Senate seat is not considered a top priority for Democrats aiming to regain control of the chamber in November. The runoff pits Republican U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow against state Treasurer John Fleming. Trump had encouraged Letlow to challenge Cassidy and endorsed her before she officially entered the race in January. Letlow, who took office in 2021 via a special election, succeeded her late husband, Luke Letlow, who died of COVID-19 in 2020 before assuming his duties.

Fleming previously served eight years in Congress before Trump's first term and ran for the Senate in 2016 but did not advance to the runoff. In the initial May 16 primary, Letlow secured about 45% of the vote, falling short of the majority needed to avoid a runoff. Fleming followed with 28%, narrowly ahead of Cassidy's approximately 25%. Letlow performed strongly in smaller, rural parishes across the state, particularly in northeastern Louisiana and along the Mississippi border. Fleming's best showing was in northwestern Louisiana, where he led in nine rural parishes, though not in Caddo Parish, home to Shreveport, where Letlow finished slightly ahead.

Cassidy, the incumbent, garnered the most votes in Louisiana's three most populous parishes, including Orleans Parish, where he led Letlow by a significant margin. However, his performance was less dominant in East Baton Rouge and Jefferson parishes. Trump's endorsed candidates have a generally strong track record, though recent gubernatorial endorsements in Iowa and Georgia resulted in losses for his picks. Trump has repeatedly re-endorsed Letlow since January, while Fleming has not received his endorsement.

Louisiana Democrats are also finalizing their U.S. Senate candidate, with Jamie Davis and Gary Crockett competing in their own runoff. Additional primary runoffs include Republican contests for the Public Service Commission and state board of education.