Trump-Endorsed Julia Letlow Wins Louisiana Republican Senate Runoff

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana: Republican Congresswoman Julia Letlow has won Louisiana’s Republican primary runoff for the U.S. Senate, defeating State Treasurer John Fleming in a closely watched contest that highlighted President Donald Trump’s continuing influence within the Republican Party.

With the victory, Letlow secures the Republican nomination for the Senate seat currently held by Senator Bill Cassidy, who was eliminated in the first round of the primary after failing to secure enough support to advance to the runoff. Cassidy’s vote to convict Trump during his second impeachment trial had made him a frequent target of criticism from the former president and his allies.

Letlow, who received Trump’s endorsement early in the race, campaigned as a steadfast supporter of the president’s “America First” agenda. She overcame repeated attacks from Fleming, who also sought to appeal to conservative voters by emphasizing his own ties to the Trump administration.

The race attracted significant national attention and millions of dollars in campaign spending, making it one of the most closely watched Republican contests of the 2026 election cycle. Letlow led the initial primary with 45 percent of the vote before extending her advantage in the runoff to secure the nomination.

Letlow, who entered Congress in 2021 after winning a special election following the death of her husband, former Congressman-elect Luke Letlow, is now heavily favored in the November general election in the strongly Republican state. She will face Democratic nominee Jamie Davis, who won his party’s nomination earlier.

Political analysts view Letlow’s victory as another demonstration of Trump’s enduring sway over Republican primary voters, particularly in conservative Southern states where his endorsements continue to carry substantial political weight.