President Trump endorsed Republican Rep. Julia Letlow as a potential primary challenger to Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy over the weekend, marking a dramatic shift after months of uncertainty about where the president would stand in the race. Trump's decision to back Letlow, who has not yet officially announced her candidacy, came just days before the filing deadline and directly contradicted assurances Cassidy had received from senior White House officials that the president would remain neutral.
Trump announced his support in a post on Truth Social on Saturday night, writing that Letlow had his "Complete and Total Endorsement" if she decided to enter the race. "RUN, JULIA, RUN!!!" he added. Letlow responded the same evening with a post on social media that all but confirmed she was planning to launch a campaign, though she stopped short of a formal announcement.
Background
Cassidy, a medical doctor serving his second term in the Senate, has long been a target of Trump's frustration. In 2021, Cassidy was one of seven Senate Republicans who voted to convict Trump during his impeachment trial following the January 6 Capitol attack. That vote marked a breaking point between the two men, and Trump has been looking for an opportunity to punish Cassidy politically ever since.
Letlow first came to Congress in 2021 after winning a special election to fill the seat left vacant by her late husband, Luke Letlow, who died from COVID-19 complications before taking office. She became the first Republican woman elected to represent Louisiana in Congress. Since then, she has built a profile as a conservative legislator, though her tenure has not been without controversy. Recently, it was discovered that she failed to disclose more than 200 stock trades on time, a disclosure violation her office attributed to her financial advisers.
Cassidy has been seeking a third term in the Senate and had been preparing for what he expected to be a difficult campaign. However, he believed he had secured Trump's neutrality. For months, Cassidy told fellow Republicans that senior White House officials had promised the president would not intervene in the race. That promise, however, proved to be worth little.
Key Details
Trump's Change of Direction
Trump's endorsement came after he called Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Friday to discuss his thinking about the Louisiana race. During that conversation, Trump told Thune he was leaning toward backing Letlow, even though he had not yet made a final decision. Thune, who leads the Senate GOP, urged Trump to support Cassidy instead, arguing that Republicans could not afford to lose another vote in the Senate on critical issues ranging from reconciliation bills to Federal Reserve nominations to health care legislation.
Thune also emphasized Cassidy's loyalty during the current Congress and his role as chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, a position that gives him influence over Trump's health care agenda. Despite these arguments, Trump moved forward with his endorsement of Letlow the following day.
The Cassidy Response
Cassidy responded to Trump's endorsement with measured confidence. In a post on social media, he stated that he was "proudly running for re-election as a principled conservative who gets things done for the people of Louisiana." He added that if Letlow decided to run, he was confident he would win.
Cassidy has been working to improve his relationship with Trump in recent months. He delivered the important vote to advance Trump's nominee for Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., out of committee in February, though he has since been critical of Kennedy's leadership on several health issues, including vaccine policy.
Letlow's Statement
"I'm honored to have President Trump's endorsement and trust. My mission is clear: to ensure the nation our children inherit is safer and stronger. This United States Senate seat belongs to the people of Louisiana, because we deserve conservative leadership that will not waver."
Letow's response suggested she was preparing to announce a formal campaign, though she has not yet filed official paperwork. Sources familiar with her plans indicated that a campaign advertisement had already been filmed in preparation for a potential Senate run.
What This Means
Trump's endorsement of Letlow represents a significant moment in Republican politics. It shows that Trump is willing to override the preferences of Senate Republican leadership to settle personal scores. Cassidy's vote to convict Trump in the impeachment trial continues to haunt him, and Trump appears determined to use his influence to support a challenger.
For Senate Republicans, the endorsement creates tension. Leadership had been backing Cassidy and believed they had secured Trump's neutrality. Now they face a divided party heading into a primary election. The race could become expensive and divisive at a time when Republicans are trying to maintain their Senate majority.
For Letlow, Trump's backing gives her a significant advantage in a Republican primary in Louisiana, a state Trump won decisively. However, a formal announcement of her candidacy has not yet come, and questions remain about whether she will ultimately decide to leave her House seat to run for the Senate.
The race will test Trump's influence within the Republican Party and whether his endorsement can overcome an incumbent senator's advantages, including his committee position and work on issues important to the Trump administration.
