Former US President Donald Trump has ignited a political firestorm by publicly endorsing a challenger to a sitting Republican senator, choosing to back Congresswoman Julia Letlow over incumbent Bill Cassidy in the upcoming Louisiana Senate race.
A Surprise Endorsement and a Political Grudge
On Saturday evening, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to issue a rallying cry for Representative Julia Letlow to enter the contest. In a post that read 'RUN JULIA RUN!!!', Trump declared that should she decide to run, she would have his 'Complete and Total Endorsement.' This public call to arms directly challenges Senator Bill Cassidy, who is seeking re-election.
The endorsement is widely seen as an act of political retribution. Cassidy was one of the seven Republican senators who voted to convict Trump on a charge of 'incitement of insurrection' following the January 6th Capitol riot in 2021. At the time, Cassidy stated that 'our Constitution and our country is more important than any one person' and that he believed Trump was guilty.
The Key Players: Letlow and Cassidy
Congresswoman Julia Letlow, a Republican, was elected in a 2021 special election to fill the seat of her late husband, Luke Letlow, who died from COVID-19 complications before he could be sworn into office. Sources indicate she is now preparing to launch her Senate campaign, with an announcement possible as soon as Monday.
Senator Bill Cassidy, a doctor by profession, has since tried to mend fences with Trump. After Republicans regained control of the Senate last year, Cassidy was appointed chair of the influential Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. He has played a key role in advancing parts of Trump's agenda, including casting a critical vote to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services Secretary.
Implications for the GOP and the Senate Majority
Trump's intervention has thrown a significant wrench into what was expected to be a stable race. Despite Trump winning Louisiana convincingly in 2016, 2020, and 2024, Cassidy's voting record has not always aligned with the party's most conservative wing. Notably, during the Biden administration, he was among 15 GOP senators who supported the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a major legislative victory for President Biden.
Following Trump's endorsement, Cassidy's campaign released a defiant statement on X, affirming his intention to stay in the race as a 'principled conservative who gets things done.' Letlow's response was more cryptic, thanking Trump for his 'endorsement and trust' and speaking of a mission for a 'safer and stronger' nation, without explicitly confirming her candidacy.
This internal Republican conflict comes at a precarious time for the party, which must defend its narrow Senate majority. Democrats are poised to challenge seats across the country, and a divisive primary in a reliably red state like Louisiana could drain resources and create an unexpected vulnerability for the GOP.
