President Donald Trump has solidified his influence in Louisiana.
He first succeeded in removing Sen. Bill Cassidy — a long-standing adversary who voted to convict Trump on impeachment charges — last month. Then, on Saturday, Trump’s favored candidate, Rep. Julia Letlow, won the runoff to replace the senator.
This victory marks a return to success for Trump after a series of setbacks in primaries, with his endorsed candidates losing in Iowa, Georgia, and an initially endorsed Republican failing in South Carolina. The outcome on Saturday strengthens Trump’s hold on the Republican party: With his endorsement, Letlow overcame a late challenge from John Fleming, the hardline conservative state treasurer who also sought to gain favor with the MAGA base.
Letlow’s win sends another Trump ally to Washington, furthering the MAGA influence within the party, and demonstrates the ongoing potency of Trump’s endorsement, which elevates candidates even when their opponents have strong conservative credentials. This victory also underscores the influence of GOP Gov. Jeff Landry, whose unwavering support was instrumental for Letlow’s success.
This primary highlights a critical question for the future of the GOP: How influential is Trump’s endorsement against rivals who share his MAGA philosophy?
Unlike primaries where MAGA faces off against the establishment or Trump’s adversaries — which MAGA consistently wins — this year has seen contests with multiple candidates all vying for the America First mantle. In Louisiana and Alabama, Trump-backed candidates won, although both Letlow and Rep. Barry Moore faced stiff competition from fellow pro-Trump contenders. Meanwhile, in two governors’ races, Rick Jackson’s substantial financial backing secured his nomination in Georgia, and Zach Lahn achieved a surprising upset in Iowa, both benefiting from their alignment with Trump.
Fleming, a founder of the House Freedom Caucus and former White House aide, campaigned as a staunch Trump supporter, arguing he embodied MAGA’s core values. He attempted to portray Letlow as the candidate of the establishment, backed by elected officials rather than grassroots conservatives.
However, Republican primary voters ultimately chose the candidate endorsed by Trump.
“Tonight’s runoff proves one indisputable fact: Donald Trump’s endorsement remains the apex predator of Republican politics,” said Louisiana GOP strategist Lionel Rainey. “Masterclass in raw electoral power.”
In one of the nation’s most Republican states, Letlow is now the frontrunner to win in the general election in November. She is set to face Jamie Davis, a farmer who secured the Democratic nomination in the runoff on Saturday.
Letlow’s anticipated rise to the Senate signifies a swift ascent in Louisiana politics: She was elected to the House in a 2021 special election after her husband passed away from Covid in 2020, just days before taking office. She entered the Senate race following Trump’s public endorsement.
“President Trump, thank you for encouraging me to get into this race, thank you for your endorsement, Louisiana loves you,” Letlow expressed in her victory speech on Saturday night.
Yet, Trump’s endorsement of Letlow was not a guaranteed success. In the May primary, Cassidy, a prominent MAGA target, garnered less than 25 percent of the vote, and while Letlow led the field, she fell short of the 50 percent needed to avoid a runoff.
In Saturday’s runoff, Letlow emphasized Trump’s endorsement, but Fleming gained significant traction since finishing second in the initial voting round, ultimately ending just 14 points behind Letlow as nearly all votes were tallied.
“Yes I love the heat of battle. I love the combat,” Fleming stated to supporters in his concession speech. “But it makes us stronger. It really makes us better.”
Letlow, from north Louisiana, benefited from external national groups supporting her, including the official political arm of the Make American Healthy Again movement, which committed $1 million to bolster her campaign.
Her victory is a relief for Landry, who invested substantial political capital in her Senate bid, at times causing friction among fellow Republicans. Landry urged donors to contribute to her campaign, and a super PAC aligned with the governor spent approximately $6 million supporting her, primarily targeting Fleming’s stances on carbon capture and border issues.
It remains uncertain whether Landry will face a serious primary challenge in his reelection bid next year, but a defeat for Letlow would have made him more vulnerable to internal criticism and doubts about his political strength.
Some Louisiana Republicans quickly speculated that Fleming might consider a run against Landry. One Republican, speaking anonymously about party dynamics, referred to it as “payback.”
Landry, in a statement, congratulated Letlow “on her decisive victory,” and commended her for running “an incredible race fueled by the support of President Donald J. Trump and hardworking Louisianians across our state.”
