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President Donald Trump has shaken up the 2026 Louisiana Senate race by endorsing a potential primary challenger against incumbent Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy.
The president called on GOP Rep. Julia Letlow to run against Cassidy, noting that he would give her his complete support.
Cassidy, seeking reelection to a third term, fell into President Trump’s ire after previously voting to convict him during the second impeachment trial in 2020.
“Highly Respected America First Congresswoman, Julia Letlow, of the wonderful State of Louisiana, is a Great Star, has been from the very beginning, and only gets better! I am hearing that Julia is considering launching her Campaign for the United States Senate in Louisiana, a place I love and WON BIG, six times, including Primaries, in 2016, 2020, and 2024!,” the president wrote Saturday in a post to Truth Social.
Letlow was first elected to Congress after a March 2021 special election, filling the vacant House seat left by her husband, Luke Letlow, who passed away just five days from taking office in January.
While Letlow has not officially announced a senatorial campaign, sources familiar with her say she is widely considering running, NBC News reported.
She also thanked the president for his endorsement in a post to X, writing that the state’s Senate seat “belongs to the people of Louisiana” because they “deserve conservative leadership that will not waver.”
If she decides to formally run, she has the full backing of the White House.
“I know Julia well, have seen her tested at the highest and most difficult levels, and she is a TOTAL WINNER! A Proud Mother of two children, Julia is a wonderful person, has ALWAYS delivered for Louisiana, and would continue doing so in the United States Senate,” the president wrote in his endorsement.
“As your next Senator, Julia will work tirelessly to Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Support our Amazing Farmers and Fishermen, Champion Louisiana Oil & Gas, Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Keep our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Ensure LAW AND ORDER, Strengthen our Military/Veterans, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment,” he added.
President Trump continued, “Should she decide to enter this Race, Julia Letlow has my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, JULIA, RUN!!!”
Cassidy has long been condemned by the president and many Republicans alike, particularly after being one of seven Republican senators to join Democrats in voting to convict President Trump for incitement of insurrection in 2020.
The senator has also made numerous statements deriding President Trump, previously calling for him to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race.
While little polling has been done in Louisiana’s Senate race, many Republican voters would seemingly support another candidate over Cassidy, who received just 23 percent support in the latest GOP primary poll from October.
In a general election, Louisiana is not expected to be competitive, meaning the GOP primary winner will likely become the state’s next senator.
