Trump-backed primary challenger unseats Louisiana Sen. Cassidy, who voted to convict during impeachment inquiry – Democracy Docket
By Brentin Mock
In a development signaling President Donald Trump’s expansive control over the Republican Party, a candidate he backed has unseated U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, who voted to convict Trump for “incitement” of the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, during Louisiana’s GOP Senate primary.
Cassidy was one of just seven GOP senators who supported convicting the president during Trump’s second impeachment in 2021 — and one of three who are still in office.
He was defeated by Rep. Julia Letlow (R-La.), whom Trump backed in the fourway Senate primary race, and Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming (R), who took second place.
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In a subtle jab at Trump’s constant claims of rigged elections, Cassidy said in his concession speech, “When you take part in democracy, sometimes things don’t go your way, but you don’t sulk, you don’t complain, and you don’t say the election was stolen.”
Letlow’s victory over Cassidy is also noteworthy for the fact that she once told CNN that she would have objected to certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election won by Joe Biden. She has also taken other positions closely aligned with Trump’s agenda.
CNN reported Letlow’s comments on the 2020 vote back in 2021, after she won a special election to fill the Louisiana 5th District House seat left empty by her husband Luke Letlow, who died from Covid-19 complications.
Shortly after taking that seat, she refused to support the U.S. House select committee created to investigate the January 6 attacks on the U.S. Capitol.
Letlow will now advance in the primary runoff having knocked off Cassidy, whom she assailed in her campaign for voting to convict Trump.
Her hammering of Cassidy on this point played largely into her endorsement from Trump, who has used these midterm primaries to eliminate congressional Republicans who’ve either voted to impeach or investigate him in the past — or have refused to vote for his agenda in the present.
In comments on Meet the Press Sunday morning, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a close Trump ally, drove home that point, saying that it was Cassidy’s impeachment vote that led to his loss.
“I like Bill. I thought he’s a great senator, but he made a political decision — he voted to impeach President Trump,” said Graham. “Those who try to destroy Trump politically, stand in the way of his agenda are going to lose. You can disagree with President Trump, but if you try to destroy him, you’re going to lose, because this is the party of Donald Trump.”
If Letlow wins the primary runoff and general election in November, she will likely be a loyal vote for Trump’s anti-voter agenda.
In her campaign this year for the U.S. Senate, she made passing Trump’s voter suppression SAVE America Act legislation one of her priority issues.
“Julia supports voter ID, proof of citizenship to register, accurate and maintained voter rolls, and real safeguards against fraud,” reads her campaign site. “That is why Julia supports the SAVE AMERICA Act and other commonsense reforms to ensure only American citizens vote in American elections. In the Senate, she will fight to require proof of citizenship, strengthen voter ID, clean up voter rolls, and protect every lawful vote from being canceled out by fraud or illegal voting.”
With primaries beginning across the country, Trump has attempted to unseat — with noteworthy success — numerous elected Republicans who have defied him.
Earlier this month, Trump-backed challengers defeated most Republican Indiana state senators who had bucked the president on his demands that the state carry out a mid-decade gerrymander in favor of the GOP.
Trump is also targeting Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who championed the release of the Epstein files against the president’s wishes.
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