President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Rep. Julia Letlow has dramatically reshaped the Republican Senate primary in Louisiana, setting up a high‑stakes contest against incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy. Trump’s public support for Letlow and her subsequent entry into the race mark a major intervention in the 2026 election cycle and signal his continued influence in GOP primaries across the country.
Julia Letlow, a Republican congresswoman representing Louisiana’s 5th District since 2021, announced her Senate bid at a breakfast event in Baton Rouge shortly after Trump’s endorsement. In her announcement, Letlow underscored her commitment to strong conservative leadership and said Louisiana “deserves a senator who will not waver,” expressing gratitude for the former president’s backing.
Letlow’s entry comes as a blow to Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician and chair of the Senate Health Committee, who is seeking a third six‑year term. Cassidy has strong establishment support and significantly more campaign funding, but his past vote to convict Trump during his impeachment trial has made him a target for the former president and his allies within the party. Cassidy has acknowledged Letlow’s challenge and affirmed his intention to continue his re‑election campaign, calling himself a “conservative” focused on improving Louisiana and the nation.
Trump’s endorsement was unmistakable: he declared Letlow a “total winner” and encouraged her to run, a move that has created tension between the former president’s loyal base and Senate leadership figures who back Cassidy. The backing of Letlow by Trump highlights ongoing fissures within the Republican Party as candidates vie to demonstrate conservative credentials ahead of the May primary.
In addition to Letlow and Cassidy, other Republicans — including John Fleming, Julie Emerson, and Blake Miguez — are also competing in the GOP primary, which plays out under Louisiana’s new closed primary system beginning this election cycle. While Democrats are not expected to mount a strong challenge in the deep‑red state, the outcome of the Republican contest will be pivotal in determining who ultimately holds the Senate seat in November.
