Trump\u2019s support of Letlow comes after Louisiana senator voted to convict president in second impeachment trial<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Donald Trump<\/a> has sought to deliver a staggering blow to the re-election chances of Senator Bill Cassidy \u2013 the president\u2019s fellow Republican with whom he has politically feuded \u2013 by giving his \u201ccomplete and total endorsement\u201d to a potential primary opponent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Trump\u2019s endorsement of US House member Julia Letlow as well as his encouragement for her to run for Cassidy\u2019s Senate seat in Louisiana comes after the senator voted to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial during Trump\u2019s first presidency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cassidy, a medical doctor, had since sought to win back Trump\u2019s favor \u2013 including by voting to confirm Robert F Kennedy Jr as the US health secretary despite Kennedy\u2019s anti-vaccine activism. And Cassidy had since publicly expressed confidence Trump would not make any endorsements as he sought re-election in November\u2019s midterms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nonetheless, Trump published a post on his Truth Social platform saying should Letlow \u201cdecide to enter this Race, [she] has my Complete and Total Endorsement\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRUN, JULIA, RUN!!!!\u201d Trump\u2019s post concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cassidy was among seven<\/a> Republican US senators who broke loyalties to their party by voting to convict the president at his second impeachment trial after his supporters carried out the 6 January 2021 US Capitol attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then in February, Cassidy voted in alignment with his party, joining<\/a> 51 fellow Republicans to confirm Kennedy as the Trump administration\u2019s health secretary. Cassidy has since repeatedly spoken out about anti-vaccine maneuvers that are in line with Kennedy\u2019s philosophies, including Louisiana\u2019s decision to prohibit the promotion of mass vaccination against preventable diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking out against Trump\u2019s snub Saturday, Cassidy said on X: \u201cI\u2019m proudly running for re-election as a principled conservative who gets things done for the people of Louisiana. If Congresswoman Letlow decides to run I am confident I will win.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Letlow won<\/a> a special election for the Louisiana-based US House seat in 2021 which her husband, Luke, had previously won before his death from Covid-19. She became the first Republican woman elected to Congress from Louisiana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Commenting on social media about the endorsement, Letlow said she was honored to have Trump\u2019s trust. \u201cMy mission is clear,\u201d she posted, \u201cto ensure the nation our children inherit is safer and stronger\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Candidates for Cassidy\u2019s seat have until 13 February to file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The timing of a potential Cassidy-Letlow electoral showdown is conspicuous. In 2024, Louisiana lawmakers approved<\/a> a shift to a closed party primary system from an open \u2013 or \u201cjungle\u201d \u2013 system for certain elected positions, including Cassidy\u2019s seat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Under an open primary, two candidates from the same party can face each other in a runoff if no one receives more than 50% of the vote in the primary. By comparison, the new system all but ensures each of the major parties has a candidate in the runoff. In his case, Cassidy could only qualify for the runoff if he wins his primary, when the old system would have allowed him to make the runoff even if he finished second to a Republican in the primary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n