US senator loses primary bid to Trump-backed challenger
A Louisiana senator bidding for a third term lost his Republican primary on May 16, in the latest demonstration of U.S. President Donald Trump’s hold over his party.
Trump had targeted Bill Cassidy and endorsed an opponent in retaliation for the senator voting to impeach him five years ago.
In the primary election on May 16, Cassidy was trailing in third place behind Trump-endorsed challenger Julia Letlow, a congresswoman, and state treasurer John Fleming, effectively shutting Cassidy out of a June 27 runoff vote, according to projections from CNN and NBC News.
“Congratulations to Congresswoman Julia Letlow on a fantastic race, beating an Incumbent Senator by Record Setting Numbers,” Trump posted May 16 night on his Truth Social platform.
