Trump-endorsed Julia Letlow leads Louisiana GOP Senate runoff against John Fleming

U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, who received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, is set to compete against state Treasurer John Fleming for the Republican Senate nomination in Louisiana on Saturday. Both candidates advanced from the May 16 primary, where Letlow led with roughly 45% of the vote, followed by Fleming at about 28% and incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy at 25% after Trump publicly criticized Cassidy for voting to convict him in his 2021 impeachment trial.

Letlow, who entered Congress in 2021 after her husband’s death, has secured endorsements from Governor Jeff Landry and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, and has won support across a broad geographic range, including rural northern parishes and the New Orleans area. She told an online rally, "We have a chance to send a clear message that Louisiana stands with President Trump. He endorsed me because he knows I will stand with him."

Fleming, a former founder of the House Freedom Caucus and former member of the Trump administration, emphasizes his long-standing alignment with the "Make America Great Again" movement. He told voters, "Nobody has been more loyal to you than me," recalling a recent conversation with Trump.

Political analysts note that Letlow’s campaign benefits from a super-PAC that has spent about $4 million supporting her since the primary, while both campaigns have spent roughly $1 million on advertising. The runoff will also feature debates over issues such as diversity, equity and inclusion policies, transgender-sports legislation, and carbon-capture projects that some rural voters oppose.

The race occurs in a state that heavily favors Republicans; Trump won Louisiana by 22 points in the 2024 presidential election. A Democratic Senate nominee will also be chosen in a separate primary, with farmer Jamie Davis and veteran Gary Crockett as the leading contenders.