Overview
- Rep. Julia Letlow led the count with just over 44% as state Treasurer John Fleming took just over 28% and Sen. Bill Cassidy finished at 24.8%, sending Letlow and Fleming to a June 27 runoff.
- President Trump had endorsed Letlow, attacked Cassidy on social media before votes were counted, and later cheered the result as payback for Cassidy’s 2021 vote to convict him.
- In his concession, Cassidy said insults only matter from people of character and stressed that in a democracy you accept defeat without claiming fraud.
- Cassidy’s exit ends the tenure of a Republican health policy leader who questioned Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s anti-vaccine statements during his health secretary confirmation before voting to confirm him.
- News outlets framed the outcome as a win for Trump inside the GOP, with the focus now on endorsements, fundraising, and turnout ahead of the June 27 head-to-head.