Cassidy, one of seven Senate Republicans who voted to convict President Trump in his impeachment trial after Jan. 6, 2021, faced Trump's backing of Letlow in January. The president encouraged her challenge against the incumbent senator who occasionally broke ranks with the administration.
Trump posted on Truth Social late Saturday night celebrating Letlow's performance, saying she ran "a fantastic race, beating an Incumbent Senator by Record Setting Numbers." He praised Letlow as "a fantastic person" who "will make a brilliant Senator for the Great People of Louisiana."
Trump Attacks Cassidy's Record
In a follow-up post, Trump accused Cassidy of "falsely using his 'relationship' with me during his political career, and winning Elections because of it." He slammed Cassidy for voting "to impeach me on preposterous charges that were fake then, and now, are criminally insane!"
Cassidy defended his record in his concession speech Saturday night, telling supporters "our country is not about one individual," according to The Associated Press. "It is about the welfare of all Americans, and it is about the Constitution," he said.
Letlow, 45, became the first Republican woman elected to represent Louisiana in Congress in 2021 after winning a special election for the state's 5th Congressional District. She won the seat following her husband's death in 2020 from COVID-19 complications before he could be sworn into office.
Letlow is a fantastic person and, after taking care of some additional business, will make a brilliant Senator for the Great People of Louisiana, a State that I love, helped make prosperous with my Energy Policies and everything else.
Conservative Credentials Battle
Throughout the campaign, Letlow hammered Cassidy as disloyal to the GOP, claiming Louisiana "shouldn't have to wonder how our senator will vote when the pressure's on." She called Trump "the best president this country has ever had" in her victory speech Saturday night.
Fleming, who worked in the first Trump administration and previously represented Louisiana in the U.S. House, positioned himself as "the only conservative MAGA Republican" in the race despite lacking Trump's endorsement.
Beyond his impeachment vote, Cassidy clashed with the administration over HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s leadership, despite casting the key vote to advance Kennedy's nomination. The medical doctor broke with Kennedy on vaccine policy, including slamming changes to the hepatitis B vaccine schedule for infants.
The runoff between Letlow and Fleming will test whether Trump's endorsement proves decisive, as Cassidy's defeat demonstrates the continued power of Trump loyalty in Republican primaries. Louisiana Republicans will choose their nominee in the coming weeks, with the winner heavily favored in the deep-red state.
