Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, has lost his bid for a third term in a remarkable defeat, after two primary challengers — including one backed by President Donald Trump — finished ahead of him in Saturday’s primary and headed to a runoff for his seat.
Rep. Julia Letlow, who won Trump’s endorsement, and a second opponent, Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming, will advance to the June 27 runoff, CNN’s Decision Desk projects. No candidate will receive a majority of the vote Saturday night, though Letlow was well ahead of both Fleming and Cassidy.
Cassidy’s defeat is the latest demonstration of Trump’s ability to exact revenge against Republicans who cross him, five years after Cassidy voted to convict Trump during the president’s second impeachment. Cassidy will become the first Republican senator to lose reelection in a primary since Alabama Sen. Luther Strange lost his seat in a 2017 primary runoff.
“Bill Cassidy, after falsely using his ‘relationship’ with me during his political career, and winning Elections because of it, voted to impeach me on preposterous charges that were fake then, and now, are criminally insane!” Trump posted on Truth Social late Saturday. “His disloyalty to the man who got him elected is now a part of legend, and it’s nice to see that his political career is OVER!”
Cassidy told supporters that Saturday’s election did not yield “the result that I necessarily wanted, but I feel great.” He did not mention Trump but appeared to offer a veiled critique of the president and his party’s focus on him.
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