Rep. Julia Letlow closed a Julia Letlow Senate runoff that finished President Donald Trump’s long campaign against Sen. Bill Cassidy and locked in a Trump-backed nominee in one of the country’s reddest states.
Letlow defeated state Treasurer John Fleming with about 57% to 43% after nearly all ballots were counted, according to AP results. The Associated Press called the race on June 27. Democrats nominated farmer Jamie Davis in their runoff.
Julia Letlow Senate runoff completes Cassidy’s ouster
Trump first helped deny Cassidy a third term in the May primary. Cassidy, who voted to convict Trump on impeachment charges, took less than 25% then. Letlow led the field but fell short of 50%, forcing the runoff. On Saturday she ran hard on Trump’s endorsement while Fleming, a Freedom Caucus founder and former White House aide, cast her as the establishment pick.
Republican primary voters sided with Trump’s seal of approval. “Tonight’s runoff proves one indisputable fact: Donald Trump’s endorsement remains the apex predator of Republican politics,” Louisiana GOP strategist Lionel Rainey told Politico.
Why the Julia Letlow Senate runoff still tested MAGA power
The contest was not MAGA versus the establishment. Both Letlow and Fleming sought the America First lane. Fleming closed ground after May and finished about 14 points behind. Outside groups helped Letlow, including a Make America Healthy Again political arm that pledged $1 million. A super PAC aligned with Gov. Jeff Landry spent about $6 million attacking Fleming.
The Axo read: Trump’s endorsement still decides crowded MAGA-on-MAGA races in deep-red states, but it is no longer a knockout punch when rivals also claim the base. Letlow thanked Trump in her victory speech for pushing her into the race. For more Politics desk coverage, see AXO News Politics.
What comes next after the Julia Letlow Senate runoff
Letlow enters November as the overwhelming favorite against Davis. The win also bolsters Landry, who invested heavy political capital in her campaign. Some Louisiana Republicans already speculate Fleming could challenge Landry next year. Watch whether Trump’s endorsement edge holds in other MAGA-on-MAGA primaries after recent misses in Iowa and Georgia governor races.