Trump Shakes Up Louisiana Senate Race with Endorsement of Julia Letlow

In a dramatic twist that has sent shockwaves through Louisiana’s political landscape, President Donald Trump has endorsed Republican Representative Julia Letlow over incumbent GOP Senator Bill Cassidy. This high-profile endorsement, delivered via social media, has completely reshaped the race in this deeply conservative state. Trump’s announcement came with enthusiastic encouragement: “Should she decide to enter this RACE, Julia Letlow has my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, JULIA, RUN!!!” Sources now indicate that Letlow is likely to launch her Senate campaign as early as this week, creating a major political headache for both Cassidy and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who has publicly backed the incumbent senator.

Julia Letlow’s potential candidacy carries a poignant backstory that resonates with many Louisianans. Elected to Congress in 2021 after the tragic death of her husband Luke from COVID-19 shortly before he could take office, the 44-year-old representative has quickly established herself as a rising star in Republican politics. In response to Trump’s endorsement, Letlow hinted at her Senate ambitions, writing, “My mission is clear: to ensure the nation our children inherit is safer and stronger. This United States Senate seat belongs to the people of Louisiana, because we deserve conservative leadership that will not waver.” Republican sources confirm that Letlow had indicated she wouldn’t challenge Cassidy without Trump’s backing, suggesting this endorsement was the green light she’d been waiting for.

For Senator Cassidy, a 68-year-old physician who chairs the powerful Senate Health committee and is seeking a third six-year term, Trump’s intervention represents a significant setback. Cassidy’s vote to convict Trump in the Senate impeachment trial following the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack has clearly not been forgotten, despite the senator’s recent efforts to align himself with Trump’s agenda, including supporting controversial cabinet nominees like Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Despite the challenge, Cassidy remains defiant, stating, “I’m proudly running for re-election as a principled conservative who gets things done for the people of Louisiana. If Congresswoman Letlow decides to run, I am confident I will win.” The senator currently holds a substantial financial advantage with nearly $10 million in his campaign coffers compared to Letlow’s $2.3 million, though a surge of pro-Trump donations to Letlow seems likely if she officially enters the race.

The primary battle is further complicated by several other Republican challengers. Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming, a former congressman who served in Trump’s first administration, is already in the race and claiming momentum. “A recent poll shows our campaign expanding our lead on Bill Cassidy, while Cassidy’s numbers continue to drop,” Fleming noted after Trump’s endorsement of Letlow. State Senator Blake Miguez and State Representative Julie Emerson have also declared their candidacies, while former Representative Garrett Graves is considering joining the increasingly crowded field. This fractured GOP field creates an unpredictable dynamic, though Trump’s endorsement clearly elevates Letlow’s prospects significantly.

Behind the scenes, the endorsement has created tension among Republican leadership. Trump reportedly reached out to Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Friday to give him advance notice of the Letlow endorsement, a courtesy that nonetheless puts Thune in an awkward position as he continues to support Cassidy. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has previously endorsed Cassidy, but notably, the Senate Leadership Fund (SLF), the top super PAC supporting Senate Republicans that is aligned with Thune, has announced it will remain neutral in the Louisiana contest. SLF Executive Director Alex Latchum explained this position by stating, “The mission of the Senate Leadership Fund is to preserve and expand the Republican Senate majority. Anything that distracts from our efforts to beat Democrats in November is unhelpful.” This neutrality from such a well-funded organization removes what could have been a crucial financial firewall for Cassidy.

Trump’s decision to wade into the Louisiana Senate race has broader implications for Republican politics nationwide, raising questions about whether he might make similar interventions in other contentious GOP primaries. Particular attention now turns to Texas, where longtime Senator John Cornyn faces primary challenges from two Trump allies – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Representative Wesley Hunt. While Thune recently speculated that Trump wouldn’t make an endorsement in the Texas GOP showdown, the Louisiana example demonstrates the former president’s willingness to challenge Republican incumbents he views as insufficiently loyal. The Make America Healthy Again PAC, which has close ties to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has already announced it will financially support Letlow, suggesting that the anti-establishment forces within the Republican Party see Louisiana as an opportunity to remove another incumbent they consider part of the traditional GOP establishment. As this drama unfolds, it highlights the continuing influence Trump wields within the Republican Party and his power to reshape races with a single social media post.