Louisiana Republicans will decide their nominee for Senate on Saturday in a runoff that has become another test of President Trump's influence over the party, while defeated incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy is set to appear on Sunday morning news programs to discuss Iran policy and Republican Party divisions.
GOP voters in the Pelican State crushed Cassidy's hopes for reelection in the May 16 primary, with the second-term senator finishing third behind Rep. Julia Letlow and state Treasurer John Fleming. Cassidy failed to advance after garnering just under 25 percent of the vote, making him the first incumbent senator of either party defeated in a primary in more than a decade.
Cassidy's loss was one of the biggest wins for Trump in the midterm cycle so far. The Louisiana Republican had long been a target of the president and his base, stemming from his vote to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial following the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. He was one of seven GOP senators to do so and one of only three that still remain in Congress.
Trump actively encouraged Letlow to jump into the race earlier this year to oust Cassidy, drawing a clear line between the senator's defeat and his impeachment decision after the May primary. "His disloyalty to the man who got him elected is now a part of a legend, and it's nice to see that his political career is OVER!" Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social at the time.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive Democrats have pointed to Cassidy's defeat as evidence that Trump's hold on the Republican Party comes with consequences for incumbents who cross him. They note that seven Republicans voted to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial, and only three of those remain in Congress.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democratic leaders have highlighted how Trump's primary intervention strategy reshapes electoral politics. Democrats see opportunities in GOP primaries where hardline Trump loyalists emerge, potentially creating nominees who are more extreme but less electable in general elections.
Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) is scheduled to appear on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday alongside Cassidy and other Republicans, where Democratic voices are expected to press the case that Trump's influence over Senate candidates could benefit their party in November.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a figure aligned with progressive causes who has backed democratic socialist candidates, is set for an exclusive interview on ABC's "This Week." In a preview clip, he pushed back against moderate critics of the movement: "We don't have to ask ourselves what life looks like if a socialist wins. I won last November, and over the course of these last six months, what we have delivered for working people are the very things we were told weren't possible."
What the Right Is Saying
Trump has repeatedly attacked Cassidy for his impeachment conviction vote and actively worked to defeat him. The president described Letlow as a "fearless champion" during a tele-rally Thursday, urging supporters to back her in Saturday's runoff.
Letlow entered the race with Trump's backing and came out on top in the primary with about 45 percent of the vote, according to Decision Desk HQ. She has built her campaign around support for Trump, and the president has returned the favor by actively campaigning for her.
Fleming, a physician and former congressman who represented the state from 2009 to 2017 before serving in Trump's first administration as assistant secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, has also campaigned as a loyal Trump supporter. Whoever wins Saturday is expected to be the favorite in November in a state that voted for Trump in all three of the past presidential elections.
Cassidy didn't hold back in his concession speech, making pointed swipes at Trump while defending his record. "Our country is not about one individual, it is about the welfare of all Americans, and it is about our Constitution, and it is the welfare of my people and my state and my country and our Constitution to which I am loyal," he said.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) will appear on Fox News's "Sunday Morning Futures" to discuss the Louisiana race and broader Republican strategy. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) is scheduled for Fox News's "Fox News Sunday."
What the Numbers Show
In the May 16 Louisiana Senate primary, according to Decision Desk HQ results: Rep. Julia Letlow received approximately 45 percent of the vote; state Treasurer John Fleming garnered about 28 percent; and Sen. Bill Cassidy trailed with just under 25 percent.
None of the three candidates earned enough votes to avoid a runoff. Saturday's winner will face the Democratic nominee in November.
Cassidy was the first incumbent senator of either party defeated in a primary in more than a decade, representing a significant shift in primary election dynamics.
The U.S. military launched strikes against Iranian missile and drone storage sites and coastal radar locations Friday in response to an alleged violation of a ceasefire deal, according to reporting by The Associated Press. A signed 14-point memorandum of understanding has been met with mixed reaction on Capitol Hill.
Trump conditioned his signature on the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act on passage of the SAVE America Act, which would require photo identification for federal voting and proof of U.S. citizenship to register. The election reform measure passed the House in February but has stalled in the Senate over Democratic opposition.
The Bottom Line
Saturday's Louisiana Senate runoff will determine whether Trump secures another victory in his efforts to reshape the Republican Party by defeating incumbents who crossed him. Letlow, with Trump's backing, enters as the front-runner against Fleming, who also presents himself as a Trump loyalist.
Cassidy's appearance on CBS's "Face the Nation" Sunday marks his first major media engagement since his primary defeat and comes amid heightened tensions over Iran policy. The senator has become more willing to openly oppose the president on issues including the Iran war and a nearly $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund, having confronted Trump in a closed-door meeting this week about not being forthcoming with the American public regarding the conflict.
The Sunday morning talk shows will also feature discussions of Republican divisions over housing policy and election reform legislation, as House conservatives vow to block floor action until Congress acts on Trump's priority voting bill. The guest lineup includes Johnson, Cassidy, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), NYC Mayor Mamdani, and other key figures from both parties.