Louisiana: Trump Target Sen. Bill Cassidy Loses Reelection Bid in GOP Primary
CNN reports:
Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, has lost his bid for a third term in a remarkable defeat, after two primary challengers — including one backed by President Donald Trump — finished ahead of him in Saturday’s primary and headed to a runoff for his seat.
Rep. Julia Letlow, who won Trump’s endorsement, and a second opponent, Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming, will advance to the June 27 runoff, CNN’s Decision Desk projects. No candidate will receive a majority of the vote Saturday night, though Letlow was well ahead of both Fleming and Cassidy.
Cassidy’s defeat is the latest demonstration of Trump’s ability to exact revenge against Republicans who cross him, five years after Cassidy voted to convict Trump during the president’s second impeachment. Cassidy will become the first Republican senator to lose reelection in a primary since Alabama Sen. Luther Strange lost his seat in a 2017 primary runoff.