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Trump Endorsement in Louisiana Senate Race Complicates GOP Agenda
President Donald Trump’s decision to endorse Rep. Julia Letlow (R-La.) for the U.S. Senate has created new uncertainty for Senate Republicans, complicating their legislative agenda and reshaping a key race in a reliably Republican state.
Trump announced his support for Letlow over the weekend, backing her potential Senate bid against incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.). The move put Trump at odds with Senate GOP leadership, which has continued to back Cassidy, and injected volatility into a contest that party strategists had previously viewed as low risk.
The endorsement also raised concerns among Republican leaders because Cassidy chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which is expected to play a central role in advancing major legislation this year. That includes a potential second reconciliation package and health care measures that Republicans may attempt to pass with party line votes.
“Did anyone explain that to the president?” one GOP operative familiar with the Trump Cassidy relationship said. Cassidy as a free agent is one of the scarier ones in the Senate Republican Conference.
The operative noted that the HELP Committee includes Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), both of whom have at times opposed Trump’s positions.
“To get a majority with Dems on things to f-the president on the committee, it’s not complicated,” the operative added.
Trump has targeted Cassidy since the Louisiana senator voted to convict him during the 2021 impeachment trial related to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. Cassidy has since worked to maintain a working relationship with Trump, including voting to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of Health and Human Services despite expressing reservations.
Cassidy had already faced potential primary challenges before Letlow entered the race. Senate GOP leaders have remained publicly aligned with the incumbent.
Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said Tuesday that he has supported Cassidy from the beginning.
“We’re going to do everything we can to build the majority,” Barrasso said when asked about the impact of Trump’s endorsement.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R S.D.) and the National Republican Senatorial Committee are also backing Cassidy. Thune appeared alongside Cassidy in Louisiana last week at an event promoting the GOP tax package and at a fundraiser.
According to a source familiar with Thune’s outreach, the majority leader attempted to persuade Trump to support Cassidy, citing his legislative record and the narrow margins Republicans face on key votes. The source said Thune emphasized that “having someone like Cassidy on our side is important” for advancing Trump’s priorities.
Republican aides warned that the endorsement could weaken Thune’s ability to manage the conference in an election year.
“We have seven or eight votes that are up for grabs on every bill,” the GOP operative said. “It hurts Thune, which therefore hurts Trump because he’s the only one that protects Trump from some of these senators.”
Several Republicans said Cassidy remains well regarded within the conference.
“It’d be a little different if he was one of the more unpopular guys, but that’s not the case,” a senior GOP aide said.
Cassidy responded to Letlow’s announcement by writing on X, “I will continue to do a good job when I win re-election.”
Cassidy has about $11 million in campaign funds on hand, according to year-end filings. He must decide by the Feb. 13 deadline whether to formally run.
“If he doesn’t run again, you can probably kiss the second reconciliation bill goodbye immediately,” the senior GOP aide said.
Outside Republican groups are still weighing whether to intervene. The Senate Leadership Fund indicated it may avoid the race, though Trump’s involvement could force additional spending in the state.
“Anything that distracts from our efforts to beat Democrats in November is unhelpful,” Senate Leadership Fund executive director Alex Latcham said.
