Trump-backed challenger defeats Republican senator who voted to convict president

Trump threw his full support behind Julia Letlow in Louisiana's high-stakes contest, branding the incumbent "disloyal".

After losing his bid for re-election, Senator Bill Cassidy publicly criticized former President Donald Trump, marking a sharp shift from his previous attempts to align with him. Cassidy, one of the seven Republican senators who voted to impeach Trump over the January 6 Capitol insurrection, was defeated in the Louisiana GOP primary by a Trump-endorsed candidate, Julia Letlow. In his concession speech, Cassidy emphasized that true leadership is not self-serving or impulsive, a not-so-subtle rebuke aimed at Trump. He condemned leaders who prioritize personal control over national interest and warned against erratic decisions such as Trump's surprise war on Iran.

Senator Bill Cassidy has been defeated in the Louisiana Republican primary, failing to reach a runoff despite a significant campaign effort. Cassidy, who voted to convict former President Donald Trump in his 2021 impeachment trial, faced backlash from Trump and his supporters. U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, strongly backed by Trump, and state Treasurer John Fleming advanced to the June 27 runoff. Letlow publicly praised Trump during her victory speech, while Trump celebrated Cassidy’s defeat on social media.

CBS News projects Rep. Julia Letlow and Louisiana state Treasurer John Fleming advanced to a runoff in Saturday's Senate Republican primary, knocking out incumbent GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy. Cassidy, 68, was one of seven Senate Republicans who voted to convict President Trump in his impeachment trial after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol in 2021. And although he's emphasized his cooperation with the administration in recent years, the president endorsed Letlow in January, encouraging her to challenge Cassidy for the seat. Mr. Trump posted on Truth Social late Saturday night to congratulate Letlow, saying she ran 'a fantastic race, beating an Incumbent Senator by Record Setting Numbers.'

Senator Bill Cassidy's political career suffered a significant blow after his defeat in Louisiana’s Republican primary, marking a stark example of former President Donald Trump’s continued dominance within the party. Cassidy had tried to reconcile with Trump’s base after voting to convict him during Trump’s second impeachment trial over the January 6 Capitol riot. Despite showing support for Trump’s agenda and outspending his rivals, Cassidy failed to secure enough votes to reach the runoff. Voters perceived him as disloyal, and Trump, who endorsed U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, publicly celebrated Cassidy’s downfall.

President Donald Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. succeeded in their efforts to defeat Senator Bill Cassidy in Louisiana’s Republican primary, a signal of the enduring strength of the president’s hold on his party despite an unpopular war and soaring gas prices. Cassidy was one of seven Republican senators in 2021 who voted to convict Trump on the charge of inciting an insurrection on January 6 that year. He placed last in a three-way race Saturday against Representative Julia Letlow, who was endorsed by both Trump and a Kennedy-linked political action committee, and State Treasurer John Fleming.