Republican Senator Bill Cassidy suffered a major political setback on Saturday after losing Louisiana’s Republican Senate primary, ending his hopes of securing a third term in office. The result marked another victory for Donald Trump, who had strongly opposed Cassidy following the senator’s vote to convict him after the January 6 Capitol riot.

With more than 90 percent of the votes counted, Trump-backed Representative Julia Letlow led the race with nearly 45 percent of the vote, while Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming secured second place with over 28 percent. Cassidy finished third with approximately 25 percent, eliminating him from the race.

Letlow and Fleming are now expected to face each other in a runoff election scheduled for June 27. Political analysts believe Letlow enters the runoff as the favorite due to Trump’s endorsement and strong support among Republican voters.

Following the election results, Trump celebrated Cassidy’s defeat on social media, criticizing the senator for what he described as disloyalty. Trump argued that Cassidy built his previous Senate campaign around support for him before later voting to impeach and convict him.

Cassidy was among seven Republican senators who voted to convict Trump on charges related to incitement following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Over the years, Cassidy also publicly criticized Trump on several issues, including his handling of classified documents and aspects of his administration’s policies.

Trump moved early to influence the Louisiana Senate race by endorsing Letlow before she officially entered the contest. The endorsement immediately reshaped the Republican primary and placed Cassidy in a difficult political position throughout the campaign.

During the race, Cassidy attempted to repair his relationship with Trump supporters and conservative voters. He even backed several Trump administration nominees despite previous disagreements. However, many Republican voters remained unconvinced, with Trump’s influence continuing to dominate the party’s base.

The primary battle also exposed divisions among Louisiana Republicans. House Speaker Mike Johnson described the race as politically awkward due to his personal and professional relationships with multiple candidates.

Meanwhile, Fleming and Cassidy both criticized Letlow over past statements supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives during her time working in higher education administration. Despite the attacks, Letlow maintained strong momentum throughout the campaign.

Cassidy’s defeat is being viewed as another example of Trump’s continued control over Republican politics ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Several Republican lawmakers who previously opposed Trump have recently lost primary elections, further reinforcing the former president’s influence within the GOP.

Attention is now shifting toward upcoming Republican primaries across the country, where Trump-backed candidates continue to test the strength of his endorsement power among conservative voters.