Senator Bill Cassidy lost the Louisiana Republican primary on May 16, 2026, coming in third with just over 24% of the vote, trailing Trump-backed Julia Letlow and Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming, who received 45% and 28% respectively and advanced to a runoff election [1].
Cassidy, who voted to convict Donald Trump in the 2021 Senate impeachment trial over the January 6 Capitol attack, expressed no regret over his decision. Upon returning to the U.S. Capitol on May 18, Cassidy told reporters, "I voted to uphold the Constitution. It may have cost me my seat, but who cares? I had the privilege of voting to uphold the Constitution – isn’t that a great thing?" [2, 1].
He added, "You’re looking at a man who loves his country, who feels very, very good about how I serve my country and my Constitution and my fellow Americans. Wouldn’t all of us want to say, I voted to support the Constitution on something momentous? That’s the way I feel about it. I’m very pleased about it." [2]. Cassidy emphasized democratic norms, saying after conceding, "When you participate in democracy, sometimes it doesn't turn out the way you want it to. But you don't pout, you don't whine. You don't claim the election was stolen…. You don't manufacture some excuse. You thank the voters for the privilege of representing the state or the country for as long as you've had that privilege. And that's what I'm doing right now." [1]
Donald Trump endorsed Letlow and called Cassidy a "sleazebag," "a terrible guy," and a "disloyal disaster" on election day, adding, "It’s nice to see that his political career is OVER!" [1].
Cassidy also criticized a nearly $1.8 billion fund created to compensate Trump allies who claimed they faced unjust investigations, questioning its fairness potentially including pardoned figures related to the Capitol attack [2].
Louisiana Republican Senator John Kennedy called Cassidy's loss predictable but expressed respect for his decision to run again, saying, "Bill’s loss was predictable, and Bill knew it. I respect that, and I thank him for his service." [2]
Cassidy's defeat marks a significant shift in Louisiana politics as the runoff between Letlow and Fleming approaches, keeping the GOP race aligned with Trump-backed candidates in the lead [1].
