Donald Trump’s endorsement power faces a critical test on Saturday as Louisiana holds primary elections. Senator Bill Cassidy, a Republican who voted to impeach Trump after the January 6 insurrection and later cast a pivotal vote for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary, risks losing his party’s nomination.
Cassidy’s Political Peril
An incumbent Republican in a deeply red state, Cassidy would normally be a shoo-in. But Trump’s abrupt endorsement of Representative Julia Letlow in January has upended the race, highlighting Trump’s continued drive for revenge against GOP defectors. Letlow quickly entered the primary, joined by state treasurer John Fleming. An Emerson College poll shows Cassidy in third place among likely Republican voters, with Fleming and Letlow tied for the lead.
Trump’s Wrath and Its Fallout
“This primary is mostly about Trump,” said Robert Hogan, a Louisiana State University political science professor, calling Trump’s rejection a potential “death knell” for Cassidy’s Senate career. Cassidy joins a growing list of Republicans ousted by Trump. Earlier this month, five Indiana state senators who blocked a Trump-backed gerrymander lost their primaries. In North Carolina, Senator Thom Tillis retired after breaking with Trump.
Cassidy, a gastroenterologist who founded a clinic for uninsured patients, served in the House before defeating Democrat Mary Landrieu in 2014. During Trump’s first term, he helped craft the failed ACA repeal. His relationship with Trump soured after he voted to convict Trump in the 2021 impeachment trial. He later supported an independent commission on the Capitol riot and called for Trump to end his 2024 bid after his indictment.
Louisiana’s Primary System Changes
In 2024, Governor Jeff Landry, a Trump ally, changed primary rules to allow only party members and unaffiliated voters to nominate candidates. Strategist Ron Faucheux said the changes aim to block Republicans like Cassidy who fall out of favor with Trump. “The new system helps staunch, pro-Trump candidates get elected,” he said.
Cassidy’s Campaign Strategy
Cassidy’s campaign aims to finish in the top two and advance to a June runoff. “The mission is to get as many votes as possible Saturday and position for the runoff,” consultant Mark Harris said. Both challengers emphasize Trump’s endorsement: Letlow cites backing from Trump and Landry, while Fleming shares photos with the president.
Cassidy has attacked Letlow, dubbing her “Lib Letlow” over past support for campus diversity programs, which she has since renounced. Unaffiliated voters could be a saving grace, but Faucheux noted a runoff would be tough. “Even with personal animosity between Letlow and Fleming, their voters tend to be strongly pro-Trump,” he said.
