Rep. Julia Letlow secured the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Louisiana on Saturday, defeating state Treasurer John Fleming in a runoff. The victory underscores President Donald Trump's influence in reshaping the party by backing candidates loyal to him.
Trump's endorsement proves decisive
Letlow, who received Trump's endorsement, finished first in the May 16 primary with nearly 45% of the vote, ahead of Fleming's 28% and incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy's 25%. Cassidy, who voted to convict Trump on impeachment charges in 2021, was a target of Trump's effort to oust disloyal Republicans. Letlow, a former college administrator and ardent Trump supporter, has been in the House since 2021 after winning a special election following her husband Luke Letlow's death from COVID-19 complications.
“We have a chance to send a clear message that Louisiana stands with President Trump,” Letlow said Thursday in an online rally with the president. “He endorsed me because he knows I will stand with him.”
Spending advantages and key endorsements
Letlow benefited from significant financial backing. A super PAC supporting her spent $4.1 million in the six weeks following the primary, according to AdImpact, while both campaigns spent roughly $1 million each on advertising. She also earned endorsements from Gov. Jeff Landry and U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise. Letlow carried six of the 13 parishes Fleming formerly represented, including Caddo Parish.
For some voters, Trump's endorsement was paramount. “Trump's lady all the way,” said Barbara Dufrene, 67, of Marrero, who added she knew little about Letlow but trusted Trump to lower healthcare costs and expand social safety nets.
Fleming's MAGA appeal falls short
Fleming, a founder of the conservative House Freedom Caucus and a former Trump administration official, emphasized his loyalty to the MAGA movement. He reminded voters he did not resign after the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack and said his voting record is more conservative than Letlow's. He claimed White House allies of Landry blocked him from reaching Trump for an endorsement, but eventually spoke with the president, who said, “You're fantastic! Why didn't you call?”
Shane Jones, a 54-year-old military veteran, preferred Fleming's clear conservative principles. “He came out with his policies, where Letlow didn't,” Jones said. “If you can't sit there and sit down and talk to me about hard-hitting questions that the public has, well, then you're not even on my radar.”
Attacks over DEI and AI video
Fleming ran ads highlighting Letlow's past support for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies, which Trump opposes. Letlow said she supported DEI while interviewing for the presidency of the University of Louisiana-Monroe in 2020 but now opposes it. Fleming also reposted an AI-generated video on X that falsely depicted Letlow saying she backed DEI because she “didn't know any better,” and referenced her deceased husband. Letlow called the video “disgraceful and indefensible.”
Letlow emphasized her support for legislation barring transgender women and girls from school sports, a key issue for social conservatives. Fleming focused on opposing carbon capture and sequestration projects, citing private property rights and wasteful subsidies.
Democrats nominate Jamie Davis
In the Democratic primary, crop farmer Jamie Davis defeated Navy veteran Gary Crockett, both focusing on the cost of living and protecting social safety nets. Louisiana is heavily Republican; Trump carried the state by 22 percentage points in 2024.
