U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, the candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump, is competing against State Treasurer John Fleming in Louisiana's Republican U.S. Senate runoff. The contest aims to deliver another victory for Trump in his effort to support loyalists over Republican incumbents who have crossed him.
Letlow and Fleming finished ahead of incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy in the primary. Trump had denounced Cassidy, a two-term senator who voted to convict him following his 2021 impeachment.
A victory for Letlow would mark a success for Trump's campaign to unseat Republicans not aligned with him. Previous efforts saw challengers he backed lose reelection bids in Kentucky, Texas, and Indiana.
Letlow was elected to the House of Representatives in 2021, taking over a seat previously won by her husband, Luke Letlow, who died before he could take office. Trump endorsed Letlow in January before she entered the primary race. In the primary, Letlow secured nearly 45% of the vote, with Fleming receiving about 28% and Cassidy earning nearly 25%.
"We have a chance to send a clear message that Louisiana stands with President Trump," Letlow said during an online rally with the former president. "He endorsed me because he knows I will stand with him."
Letlow's primary performance, campaign spending, and endorsements from prominent Republicans, including Gov. Jeff Landry and U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, position her strongly for the runoff. Landry had consulted with Trump about Letlow's Senate candidacy.
Letlow won in various parishes across Louisiana in the primary, including Caddo Parish, which Fleming previously represented in the U.S. House.
Fleming, a co-founder of the conservative House Freedom Caucus during his time in Congress, later served in Trump's first administration. He has emphasized his loyalty to Trump and noted he did not resign following the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. His campaign has appealed to supporters of Trump's "Make America Great Again" movement, asserting a more conservative voting record than Letlow's.
Fleming has stated that White House allies of Landry initially prevented him from contacting Trump for an endorsement. He recounted a call with Trump where he emphasized his loyalty, to which Trump responded, "You're fantastic! Why didn't you call?"
Political consultant Mary Patricia Wray suggested Fleming might perform well in rural areas, but Letlow has an advantage. "Higher-information voters in more populous areas are going to fall into that Letlow camp," Wray said. "She is the more institutional-looking candidate."
Both campaigns have allocated approximately $1 million to advertising. However, a super PAC supporting Letlow has spent about $4 million since the primary, according to ad-tracking firm AdImpact.
Fleming's campaign has highlighted Letlow's past support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, which Trump has sought to dismantle. Letlow, a former college administrator, stated she supported DEI during a 2020 interview for a university president position but currently opposes it. Fleming shared an AI-generated video on social media platform X that depicted Letlow supporting DEI, referencing her late husband, who died from COVID-19 complications. Fleming acknowledged the video was circulating because it resonated with some voters, while Letlow condemned it as "disgraceful and indefensible," particularly its reference to her husband.
Letlow has focused on issues important to social conservatives, including support for legislation that would prohibit transgender women and girls from participating in school sports.
Fleming's campaign has centered on opposition to carbon capture and sequestration projects, which involve injecting carbon dioxide waste underground. He argues these projects infringe on private property rights and that federal subsidies for the technology are wasteful.
In the Democratic primary for the same Senate seat, Jamie Davis and Gary Crockett are competing. Both candidates have emphasized addressing the cost of living and protecting social safety nets.
Louisiana is a heavily Republican state, with Trump winning the state by 22 percentage points in the 2024 election.