Republican Senator Bill Cassidy lost his Louisiana primary race Saturday, failing to advance to a runoff and effectively ending his reelection bid. Cassidy, one of seven GOP senators who voted to convict Donald Trump at his 2021 impeachment trial, finished third with approximately 25 percent of the vote.
The race reflected the enduring cost of Cassidy's impeachment vote in a deeply conservative state. Trump endorsed neither of the two candidates advancing to the runoff, but both benefited from the anti-Cassidy sentiment among Republican primary voters who viewed his conviction vote as a betrayal.
Two Republicans qualified for the December runoff. Nellie Letlow, a Trump-backed candidate and widow of former Congressman Luke Letlow, and John Fleming, a physician and former House member, advanced past the primary field. Their advancement to a head-to-head runoff sets up a race to replace Cassidy in a Senate seat Republicans hold securely.
Cassidy, a physician-turned-senator first elected in 2014, had sought to emphasize his legislative accomplishments and independence. His 2021 impeachment vote against Trump positioned him alongside other moderate Republicans who prioritized constitutional principle over party loyalty. That decision proved fatal in Louisiana, where Trump maintains overwhelming support among GOP primary voters.
The loss underscores the continued grip Trump holds over Republican primary politics nearly four years after leaving office. Senators who voted to convict Trump faced significant primary challenges, with several choosing not to run rather than face certain defeat.
The runoff between Letlow and Fleming will determine which Republican faces the Democratic nominee in November's general election. Democrats have little prospect of winning the seat in Louisiana, meaning the runoff winner will almost certainly become the next senator.