By Trendsetter Tribune 
Republican Rep. Julia Letlow has officially launched her campaign for the U.S. Senate in Louisiana, challenging incumbent GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy in the Republican primary after receiving a high-profile endorsement from former President Donald Trump. Letlow made the announcement on Tuesday at a Baton Rouge business event, saying she aims to secure “safer and stronger” leadership for the nation and emphasizing her conservative values.
Letlow’s entry dramatically reshapes the race in a deep-red state where Republicans are strongly favored in the general election but could face a heated intra-party battle. Her campaign follows Trump’s public encouragement on social media last weekend, where he described her as a “TOTAL WINNER” and pledged his “complete and total endorsement” if she ran.
Her challenge underscores a broader rift within the GOP: Cassidy angered Trump’s base by voting to convict the former president during his 2021 impeachment trial after the January 6 Capitol attack, a decision that has dogged his standing with conservative voters.
Cassidy, a physician and chair of the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, confirmed he will seek re-election despite the challenge, saying he continues to serve Louisiana effectively.
The primary is set for May 16, and under Louisiana’s new closed primary system, only Republicans and unaffiliated voters may participate, increasing the stakes of the GOP contest. Other candidates, including State Treasurer John Fleming, have also entered the race, making it one of the most closely watched Republican primaries ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.