Photo: Alamy
Rep. Julia Letlow won Louisiana’s Republican Senate runoff Saturday, defeating State Treasurer John Fleming to secure the GOP nomination for a seat Republicans are expected to retain in the November general election.
Multiple news organizations, including The Associated Press, projected Letlow as the winner shortly after polls closed.
President Donald Trump congratulated Letlow on social media following her victory.
“Great News!!! Julia Letlow WON in Louisiana, beating conclusively a very strong and smart opponent. Congratulations to Julia. She will be a truly GREAT Senator!” the president wrote.
Letlow also expressed her gratitude to President Trump in a message to X celebrating her victory.
“I am deeply honored by the trust the people of Louisiana have placed in me. Thank you to every voter, volunteer, and supporter who made this victory possible. I am grateful for President Trump’s endorsement, and the support of Governor Landry, Leader Scalise, Congressman Higgins, Attorney General Murrill, and so many more incredible conservatives who came together to make tonight possible,” she posted.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to represent Louisiana in the House, and I am humbled by the opportunity to continue serving our state in the United States Senate. I will never forget that this is your seat, not mine, and I will fight every day to put Louisiana first. God bless Louisiana, and God bless America,” the congresswoman added.
Letlow has represented Louisiana in the U.S. House since 2021 after winning the special election for the seat her late husband, Luke Letlow, had secured before his death from COVID-19 complications in December 2020.
If elected in November, Letlow would become Louisiana’s first Republican woman elected to the U.S. Senate.
The runoff was required after no candidate received a majority of the vote in last month’s Republican primary.
Letlow led the initial contest with 45 percent of the vote, while Fleming advanced to the runoff after finishing second with 28 percent.
Incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy was eliminated in the primary after finishing third. Cassidy had drawn criticism from Trump and many Republican voters for voting to convict the former president during his second impeachment trial following the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Letlow now advances to the general election, where Republicans are heavily favored to retain the seat in the solidly Republican state.
