Rep. Julia Letlow (R-La.) is building momentum ahead of Louisiana's Senate runoff, securing endorsements from five Republican senators on Wednesday. The backing comes after Letlow and state Treasurer John Fleming defeated incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy in the primary last weekend, setting up a June 27 showdown.
The senators throwing their weight behind Letlow include Jim Banks (Ind.), Katie Britt (Ala.), Bernie Moreno (Ohio), Tim Sheehy (Mont.), and Rick Scott (Fla.). All but Scott are in their first terms, while Scott, now in his second term, previously chaired the Senate Republicans' campaign arm. The endorsements signal a broader push within the GOP to align with candidates loyal to former President Donald Trump, who has already backed Letlow.
“I’m incredibly honored to have the support of these conservative leaders,” Letlow said in a statement. “Each of them is fighting every day to help President Trump deliver on the America First agenda, and I would be proud to stand alongside them in the United States Senate. Louisiana Republicans are ready for strong conservative leadership that will stand with President Trump, fight for our values, and never waver.”
The endorsements underscore the fallout from Cassidy's third-place finish in the primary, where he trailed Letlow by more than 20 points and Fleming by over 3 points. Cassidy, who has served in the Senate since 2015, drew Trump's ire after voting to convict the former president in his second impeachment trial following the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Trump has since made it a priority to oust Republican lawmakers he views as disloyal, a dynamic that played out in Louisiana and is echoing in other races, such as the Texas Senate runoff where Trump backed Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Cassidy, however, has stood by his vote. “I voted to uphold the Constitution,” he said Tuesday. “When I die, if that’s put in my obituary: ‘He voted to uphold the Constitution,’ it’s going to be a better obituary.” His loss has been seen as a stark warning to other Senate Republicans about the political cost of crossing Trump, as detailed in analysis of the race's implications.
In their endorsements, the five senators praised Letlow's conservative credentials. Britt, Sheehy, and Scott each called her a “conservative leader,” while Banks, who served with Letlow in the House, said she would “be a relentless advocate for the America First agenda.” Moreno added that Letlow “is the kind of conservative fighter we need more of” in Washington.
The runoff between Letlow and Fleming will be decided on June 27. Voter registration closes on May 27, according to Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry's office. Early voting runs from June 12 through June 20, excluding Sunday, June 14, and Friday, June 19, for Juneteenth. The race is the latest test of Trump's influence in GOP primaries, following similar dynamics in Georgia's Senate runoff and other contests across the country.
