Rep. Julia Letlow of Louisiana has formally announced her candidacy for a U.S. Senate seat, opting to challenge incumbent Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy in the upcoming primary. The announcement took place during a breakfast event in Baton Rouge, according to sources familiar with the gathering who spoke on condition of anonymity. The timing of Letlow's entry follows swiftly after she received a public endorsement from former President Donald Trump.
This development introduces a heightened level of complexity into Senator Cassidy's campaign for reelection, complicating his path forward. Cassidy, who is in his second term, has faced increasing scrutiny and opposition within his party, largely stemming from his 2021 vote to convict Donald Trump during the former president's second impeachment trial, centered on allegations of attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Letlow's candidacy effectively signals the culmination of Cassidy's efforts to reconcile his relationship with Trump and conservative voters dissatisfied with his impeachment vote.
Julia Letlow secured her congressional seat in a special election in 2021 after the tragic death of her husband due to COVID complications, shortly following his electoral victory for the same seat. She has since positioned herself as a reliable supporter of Trump’s policies within the House. Trump's endorsement of Letlow comes into direct conflict with the National Republican Senatorial Committee’s (NRSC) decision to back Cassidy, maintaining their tradition of supporting incumbents. This rift within the party echoes the strategic alliance between Trump and Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, a notably conservative figure, who earlier identified Letlow as a viable contender against Cassidy. Landry’s close relationship with Trump is further reflected in his role as an envoy to Greenland, accompanying the president’s geopolitical interests in the semi-autonomous Danish territory.
Senator Cassidy, who transitioned into politics from a medical career and was once a critic of Republican health policies, notably angered many Louisiana conservatives with his support for Trump’s conviction in the Senate impeachment trial. In an effort to mend his standing within the GOP as Trump regained prominence as the leading candidate for the 2024 presidential election, Cassidy has actively praised Trump on his official social media platforms and positioned himself as aligned with the “Make America Great Again” movement.
Within the Senate, Cassidy holds the chairmanship of the health committee and played a pivotal role in advancing the nomination of Robert Kennedy Jr. as health secretary, a move marked by controversy given Kennedy's skeptical stance on vaccines. Although Cassidy expressed reservations about Kennedy’s vaccine-related views, he justified his decisive vote by citing commitments that Kennedy would refrain from altering established U.S. vaccine policies. Subsequent developments indicate that Kennedy has moved forward in modifying vaccine recommendations at the national level.