Republican Rep. Julia Letlow is projected to win Louisiana's open Senate seat, narrowly defeating Democrat Jamie Davis, according to Decision Desk HQ. The victory makes Letlow the first Republican woman to represent the Pelican State in the Senate.
With all precincts reporting early Wednesday, Letlow secured roughly 50 percent of the vote, edging out Davis by just under two percentage points in a state that has trended solidly Republican in recent cycles.
Letlow, a 45-year-old former higher education administrator, entered the race in January 2026 after serving three terms in the House. She won her seat in a special election in April 2021, following the death of her husband, Luke Letlow, who had been elected to Congress but died from complications of COVID-19 before being sworn in.
In the Senate contest, Letlow was widely seen as the front-runner after emerging from a June primary runoff. In the first round of the primary, she and state Treasurer John Fleming—both backed by President Trump—defeated incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy. Cassidy had clashed with Trump over his vote to convict the former president in his 2021 impeachment trial and his criticism of Trump's cabinet nominees, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Health and Human Services secretary.
Davis, a farmer and former police juror, trailed in the polls for most of the campaign. Despite the state's conservative lean, the close margin underscored the competitiveness of the race in a year when Democrats have sought to challenge Republican dominance in the South.
Letlow's House record includes advocacy for education measures such as the Parents Bill of Rights, which would give parents more oversight of public school curricula; the bill passed the House in 2023. She also served on the Appropriations Committee, giving her a hand in federal spending decisions.
Her victory adds to the GOP's Senate majority and marks a milestone for women in Louisiana politics. Decision Desk HQ had rated the race as likely Republican before Election Day.
In other races, Tennessee's 6th District saw a Republican hold, while Democrats flipped seats in Iowa's 2nd District and Utah's 1st District, signaling a mixed night for both parties.
