Louisiana voters soundly rejected senator Bill Cassidy’s bid for a third term in Saturday’s GOP Primary election. According to the Secretary of State’s office, Cassidy received 25% of the vote. U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, R-5th Dist., almost won the primary outright, but fell short of the 50% threshold, with 45% of the vote.
As the Associated Press reports, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, R-La, was unable to convince Louisiana voters that he deserved another six-year term after voting to convict President Donald Trump during an impeachment trial over the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. Cassidy finished behind Letlow, who was endorsed by Trump. Speaking shortly after the results came out she told supporters, “I want to say thank you to a very special man who you all know. The best president this country has ever had, President Donald Trump. (applause).”
Letlow and Treasurer John Fleming, who won 28% of the primary vote, will compete in a June 27 runoff. It’s the latest example of Trump’s power over the Republican Party, even with sagging approval ratings. Trump commented on Letlow’s victory on social media saying, “That’s what you get when you vote to impeach an innocent man.”
On the Democratic side, for the Louisiana Party Primary, Democrat Jamie Davis narrowly missed winning the election outright Saturday night, receiving 47% of the vote. Davis is a third generation farmer from Tensas Parish.
The other two challengers, Nicholas “Nick Albares and Gary Crockett each won 26% of the vote, with Crockett ahead in final, unofficial results by just 284 votes. Albares could challenge the results by asking for a recount within three days after the election, but by law would be required to pay for it if the numbers don’t change.