Letlow wins Louisiana Republican Senate runoff after Trump backing
The U.S. representative defeated John Fleming and will face Democrat Jamie Davis in November in a Republican-leaning state.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
3 min read
Julia Letlow won Louisiana’s Republican U.S. Senate primary runoff, according to Al Jazeera, strengthening her position ahead of the November midterm election in a state where Republicans hold a strong advantage. The U.S. representative defeated state Treasurer John Fleming in a two-person contest after receiving President Donald Trump’s endorsement.
Al Jazeera reported that Letlow will face Democrat Jamie Davis, a farmer, in the general election. The outlet described Letlow as the favorite because Louisiana leans heavily Republican.
Trump entered the race before the first round of primary voting on May 16, Al Jazeera reported. He backed Letlow while opposing incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican who had angered Trump by voting to convict him after his impeachment over the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters.
Cassidy’s break with Trump shaped the race
Cassidy, a medical doctor, also clashed with the Trump administration over health policy under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., according to Al Jazeera. The outlet reported that Cassidy had nonetheless supported many of Trump’s policy moves in recent years in an apparent attempt to repair his relationship with the president.
That did not save him in the primary. Cassidy finished third in the first round, behind Letlow and Fleming, both of whom Al Jazeera described as firm supporters of Trump’s Make America Great Again movement.
Letlow’s runoff win adds to Trump’s record of shaping Republican primaries this cycle. Al Jazeera reported that Trump had helped defeat incumbent Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican and prominent Trump critic, and had backed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn.
Trump’s endorsement record has been more mixed in governor’s races, according to Al Jazeera. Candidates he supported failed to win Republican nominations in Iowa and Georgia.
Questions remain for November
Al Jazeera reported that it is unclear whether Trump’s primary involvement will help Republicans in the general election, when Democrats will try to take control of the House and Senate. The outlet cited polls showing weaker support for Trump among the broader electorate.
According to Al Jazeera, Trump’s approval rating has reached all-time lows during the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, which has affected the U.S. economy. The outlet also reported that the administration’s deportation policies have received poor marks, especially after the January killing of two U.S. citizens by immigration enforcement agents.
That political climate could motivate Democrats and push away voters who are not aligned with either party, Al Jazeera reported. Some Republican officials have also criticized Trump for favoring candidate loyalty over general-election strength.
Texas has become one example of that concern. Al Jazeera reported that Republican leaders have expressed frustration over Trump’s endorsement of Paxton, the state’s scandal-hit attorney general, over Cornyn, who was viewed as a more moderate incumbent and stronger general-election candidate.
Paxton is expected to face Democrat James Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian whose campaign has drawn attention for combining faith with liberal policy positions, according to Al Jazeera. In Louisiana, Letlow now enters the next phase of the Senate race with Trump’s backing and the Republican nomination secured.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.