Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy Faces Uphill Battle for Reelection After Trump Endorses Primary Opponent

Cassidy, a policy wonk and bipartisan legislator, is fighting for reelection after voting to convict Trump in his impeachment trial.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 1:55am

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Louisiana GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy is facing an uphill battle for reelection after former President Donald Trump endorsed Cassidy's primary opponent, Rep. Julia Letlow. Cassidy, a two-term senator, voted to convict Trump in his impeachment trial over the January 6th Capitol attack, a move that has made him vulnerable in the Republican primary. Despite his policy work and bipartisan legislative record, Cassidy must now contend with Trump's opposition and the Louisiana GOP's efforts to change the state's election laws to make it harder for him to win.

Why it matters

Cassidy's vote to convict Trump in his impeachment trial has made him a target for the former president and the Louisiana Republican Party, which has worked to change the state's election laws in a way that makes it more difficult for Cassidy to win reelection. This race will test whether a Republican senator can withstand Trump's wrath and win reelection after breaking with the former president on a high-profile issue.

The details

Cassidy, a physician and policy wonk, has worked on bipartisan legislation to address issues like Social Security solvency and medical billing transparency. However, his vote to convict Trump in his impeachment trial has made him vulnerable in the Republican primary. Trump has endorsed Cassidy's primary opponent, Rep. Julia Letlow, who has made the impeachment vote a central issue in her campaign. The Louisiana GOP has also changed the state's election laws to make it harder for Cassidy to win, scrapping the 'jungle primary' system in favor of one where only Republicans and unaffiliated voters can participate.

  • On January 17, 2026, former President Trump endorsed Letlow on Truth Social, writing 'RUN, JULIA, RUN!'
  • Letlow formally entered the race three days after Trump's endorsement.

The players

Bill Cassidy

A two-term Republican senator from Louisiana who is seeking reelection in 2026. Cassidy is a physician and policy wonk who has worked on bipartisan legislation, but his vote to convict former President Trump in his impeachment trial has made him vulnerable in the Republican primary.

Julia Letlow

A Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana who has entered the 2026 Senate race after receiving an endorsement from former President Trump.

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States who has endorsed Cassidy's primary opponent, Julia Letlow, in the 2026 Louisiana Senate race.

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What they’re saying

“The president's mercurial, and that's part of what makes him effective, and part of what makes him, you know, maddening to people.”

— Bill Cassidy, U.S. Senator

“If not for the impeachment conviction vote, he probably wouldn't even have any Republican challengers. He was popular before then. He has been a legislative and policy workhorse. He's a very likable guy, maybe a little stiff in public, but very likable. I think this is the one vote that made him vulnerable.”

— Quin Hillyer, Conservative columnist

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.