Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy is fighting for his political future in Saturday's primary, after Donald Trump endorsed his opponent, US Representative Julia Letlow. Cassidy, who voted to impeach Trump after the January 6 Capitol riot and later backed Robert F Kennedy Jr as health secretary, now trails in polls behind Letlow and state treasurer John Fleming.
An Emerson College survey last month placed Cassidy third among likely Republican voters, with Fleming and Letlow leading. Political analysts say the primary is largely a referendum on Trump, whose endorsement has proven decisive in ousting Republican critics. Cassidy's vote to convict Trump in 2021 led to censure by the Louisiana Republican Party, and his efforts to mend ties—including the pivotal vote for Kennedy—have not appeased the president.
Cassidy, a gastroenterologist who co-founded a clinic for uninsured patients, has served in the Senate since 2014. His relationship with Trump deteriorated after the January 6 attack, and he later called on Trump to end his 2024 bid. Changes to Louisiana's primary system, backed by Trump ally Governor Jeff Landry, now require candidates to be nominated only by party members and unaffiliated voters, further complicating Cassidy's path.
If defeated, Cassidy would join a growing list of Republicans whose careers have ended due to Trump's opposition, including Indiana state senators and North Carolina's Thom Tillis. The primary underscores Trump's continued influence within the party and his willingness to seek revenge against those who cross him.
