Former US President Donald Trump has launched a significant political strike against Senator Bill Cassidy, a fellow Republican from Louisiana, by endorsing a potential primary challenger for his seat.
A Political Vendetta Unfolds
The move is widely seen as an act of revenge after Senator Cassidy was one of only seven Republican senators who voted to convict Trump during his second impeachment trial. That trial followed the 6 January 2021 attack on the US Capitol by Trump supporters.
Trump used his Truth Social platform to issue a "complete and total endorsement" for US House Representative Julia Letlow, should she decide to enter the race. His post emphatically concluded with, "RUN, JULIA, RUN!!!!"
Cassidy's Attempts at Reconciliation
Despite his impeachment vote, Cassidy, a medical doctor, had subsequently tried to mend fences with the former president. Notably, he voted to confirm Robert F Kennedy Jr as US health secretary in the Trump administration, aligning with Kennedy's controversial anti-vaccine stance.
Cassidy had also publicly expressed confidence that Trump would not intervene in his re-election campaign for the November midterms. Reacting to the endorsement snub on X, Cassidy stated: "I’m proudly running for re-election as a principled conservative who gets things done for the people of Louisiana. If Congresswoman Letlow decides to run I am confident I will win."
The New Challenger and a Changed Electoral Landscape
Julia Letlow won a special election for Louisiana's 5th congressional district in 2021, a seat her late husband, Luke Letlow, had won before dying from Covid-19. She became the first Republican woman elected to Congress from Louisiana.
In response to Trump's backing, Letlow said she was honoured by his trust, posting that her mission was "to ensure the nation our children inherit is safer and stronger".
The timing of this potential showdown is critical. In 2024, Louisiana changed its election system for federal offices, including Cassidy's seat, from an open "jungle" primary to a closed party primary. This new system makes it much harder for Cassidy to reach a runoff if he loses the Republican primary, a scenario that was possible under the old rules.
Candidates must file for the race by 13 February. According to reports, Trump informed Senate Majority Leader John Thune of his plans to endorse Letlow. Thune reportedly urged Trump to support Cassidy instead, citing long-term consequences and Cassidy's influential role as chair of the Senate health committee, which would oversee a major healthcare bill Trump is promoting.
