President Donald Trump has publicly offered his full support to Representative Julia Letlow ahead of Louisiana’s 2026 Senate contest, signaling a clear rebuke to incumbent Senator Bill Cassidy and reshaping the GOP primary dynamics in a state that has moved strongly in Trump’s direction.

Trump Pre-Endorses Julia Letlow for LA Senate, Putting Bill Cassidy on Notice

Senator Bill Cassidy faces a steep uphill battle for reelection in 2026 as his vote to convict former President Donald Trump after January 6 continues to shadow him among Louisiana conservatives. Cassidy’s past actions—voting to impeach and not endorsing Trump in 2024—haven’t been forgotten by the MAGA base or by Trump himself. The president’s pre-endorsement of Julia Letlow makes that rift unmistakable and puts Cassidy squarely on the defensive.

Louisiana’s electorate is far more Republican and pro-Trump than it was in 2008, and the state’s recent political trends make any primary challenge from the right especially dangerous for an incumbent like Cassidy. Unlike his 2020 run, where fractured opposition helped him, Cassidy now faces a crowded field of committed Republicans who could consolidate anti-incumbent energy. That shift reduces the chance of any vote-splitting that once worked in his favor.

Trump’s statement in support of Letlow is both emphatic and personal, praising her as a “TOTAL WINNER” and outlining the policy priorities he believes she will champion. He listed specific goals—growing the economy, cutting taxes and regulations, supporting farmers and fishermen, backing oil and gas, securing the border, and protecting the Second Amendment—that speak directly to Louisiana voters. The tone and content of the endorsement clearly put Letlow in the front-runner role, even before she has formally declared a campaign.

Julia Letlow now stands out among a field that includes State Treasurer John Fleming, State Senator Blake Miguez, PSC member Eric Skrmetta, State Representative Julie Emerson, and St. Tammany Parish Councilwoman Kathy Seiden. With Trump’s backing, Letlow gains both national attention and momentum among the base that determines primary outcomes. Whether that endorsement ultimately translates into votes remains to be seen, but the political signal is loud and unambiguous.

Efforts by Senate leadership to persuade Trump to back Cassidy reportedly fell flat, demonstrating how politically isolating Cassidy’s impeachment vote has been. Even with Senate allies campaigning on his behalf, Cassidy faces skepticism from conservatives who felt betrayed by his post-2020 actions. The political reality is simple: in today’s Republican primaries, loyalty to Trump and alignment with his agenda are decisive factors.

Critics have not let Cassidy forget his so-called flip from a pro-Trump stance during his 2020 campaign to a vote to convict after January 6. That inconsistency is framed by opponents as a core reason he is vulnerable now, and conservative commentators in Louisiana reacted sharply when he chose to impeach. The fallout included censure from the state GOP and sustained criticism from local influencers who saw his choice as a betrayal.

Highly Respected America First Congresswoman, Julia Letlow, of the wonderful State of Louisiana, is a Great Star, has been from the very beginning, and only gets better! I am hearing that Julia is considering launching her Campaign for the United States Senate in Louisiana, a place I love and WON BIG, six times, including Primaries, in 2016, 2020, and 2024!
 
I know Julia well, have seen her tested at the highest and most difficult levels, and she is a TOTAL WINNER! A Proud Mother of two children, Julia is a wonderful person, has ALWAYS delivered for Louisiana, and would continue doing so in the United States Senate. As your next Senator, Julia will work tirelessly to Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Support our Amazing Farmers and Fishermen, Champion Louisiana Oil & Gas, Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Keep our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Ensure LAW AND ORDER, Strengthen our Military/Veterans, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment.
 
Should she decide to enter this Race, Julia Letlow has my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, JULIA, RUN!!! 

PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP

Cassidy’s positioning on other national fights has also left him exposed to criticism from both the MAGA wing and emerging MAHA supporters who want bold change on health policy and vaccine issues. His record as HELP committee chair and his backing of certain nominations have been framed by opponents as evidence he works too closely with Washington institutions and pharmaceutical interests. Those accusations fuel a narrative that Cassidy is out of step with voters who want disruption, not preservation.

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy last ran for re-election in 2020, down the ballot from then-President Donald Trump. He ran as a pro-Trump, MAGA-aligned candidate, drawing on Louisiana Republicans’ motivation to get Trump re-elected in order to stay in office. He won.

Then, January 6, 2021, happened, and Cassidy made a choice that continues to haunt him today: He voted to convict Trump in his post-term impeachment.

The reaction from Louisiana conservatives was swift. Statewide-syndicated radio host Moon Griffon declared that “Bill Cassidy just knifed us all in the back!”

“Bill Cassidy is one of the most arrogant rear ends that I have ever seen in my life,” he added during his monologue on February 10, 2021.

Scott McKay, who publishes The Hayride, a Louisiana-based political commentary site, was similarly harsh.

“[T]his is a career-ending mistake on his part and there is zero point in Bill Cassidy running for re-election,” McKay wrote. “In fact, he would do well to resign his seat as soon as there is a Republican governor in Louisiana available to replace him.”

The Louisiana GOP voted to censure Cassidy. Republicans across the state condemned him. Fast forward five years, and the Louisiana doctor-turned-politician is facing a myriad of challengers for his seat—almost all of them Republicans.

Financial ties to industry donors have become another vulnerability for Cassidy in the eyes of critics who see him as beholden to out-of-state interests. Opponents point to fundraising from pharmaceutical-related sources and assert that such support affects his policy choices. That allegation feeds into the broader argument that Cassidy is not a pure standard-bearer for Louisiana conservative priorities.

It’s no coincidence that as Cassidy moves to undercut 340B, Big Pharma is lining his campaign coffers. Just last quarter, he pocketed $16,500 from employees at PhRMA, Eli Lilly, Sanofi, and Bristol Myers-Squibb — the same four drugmakers leading the charge against 340B. For a man who claims to represent Louisiana, only about a third of his donations last quarter actually came from Louisiana voters. The rest? Out-of-state interests, including Big Pharma.

This isn’t the first time Cassidy has cozied up to the pharmaceutical giants. During the 2024 election cycle, Big Pharma ranked as his fourth-largest source of campaign donations. In 2022, they were fifth. The money keeps flowing, and Cassidy keeps pushing policies that benefit drug companies at the expense of his constituents.

The dynamics in Louisiana now favor candidates who can credibly claim strong alignment with Trump and promise to defend conservative priorities without equivocation. Letlow’s potential entry, backed by the president, reshapes the contest and forces Cassidy to defend not just his record but his loyalty. Primary voters will decide whether that defense is enough.