Conceding defeat after being knocked out of his primary on Saturday night, Senator Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, seemed to have taken swipes at President Donald Trump, declaring that true leaders do not “pout,” “whine,” or “claim the election was stolen,” and adding that those who attack opponents on the internet lack character and integrity.
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Cassidy’s decisive third-place finish brings an end to his decade-long tenure in the Senate and underscores the president’s enduring power to enforce party discipline. Because no candidate captured a simple majority of the vote, the race will proceed to a primary runoff election scheduled for June 27. Under Louisiana’s unique electoral system, the top two finishers advance to a secondary election ahead of November’s general election.
According to data from The Associated Press with 99 percent of votes counted, Representative Julia Letlow, who was endorsed by Trump, led the field with 44.8 percent of the vote, followed by state Treasurer John Fleming at 28.3 percent. Cassidy placed third with 24.8 percent and Mark Spencer came in last with 2.1 percent.
A Referendum on ‘Disloyalty’
Cassidy, a medical doctor who has served in the Senate since 2015, ran an aggressive campaign and significantly outspent his opponents. However, he was unable to overcome the political fallout of his 2021 vote to convict Trump during his second impeachment trial following the U.S. Capitol riot.
While Cassidy had spent recent months emphasizing his legislative cooperation with the Trump administration, the president made unseating the incumbent a chief priority in an effort to purge the party of perceived detractors. On the morning of the primary, Trump labeled Cassidy on social media as a “disloyal disaster” and a “terrible guy,” while characterizing his past impeachment vote as “criminally insane.”
Despite intense opposition from the White House, Cassidy maintained establishment backing. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) supported him, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune publicly praised him just days before the election, calling him a “terrific senator for Louisiana.”
Defiant Concession Met With Trump Celebration
Addressing his supporters Saturday night, Cassidy, without naming Trump specifically, delivered a defense of democratic norms and constitutional boundaries that targeted the president’s political style.
“When you participate in democracy, sometimes it doesn’t turn out the way you want it to, but you don’t pout, you don’t whine, you don’t claim the election was stolen,” Cassidy said to strong applause. “You don’t manufacture some excuse—you thank the voters for the privilege of representing the state or the country for as long as you’ve had that privilege, and that’s what I’m doing right now.”
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Addressing being attacked on social media, Cassidy added: “Insults only bother me if they come from someone with character and integrity, and I find that people with character and integrity don’t spend their time attacking people on the internet.”
The senator continued: “Our country is not about one individual. It is about the welfare of all Americans, and it is about our Constitution and if someone doesn’t understand that and attempts to control others through using the levers of power, they’re about serving themselves. They’re not about serving us, and that person is not qualified to be a leader.”
In her victory speech, Letlow thanked Trump, calling him “the best president this country has ever had,” and noted that voters had sent a clear message that they want an “America First” candidate who will not “turn her back on Louisiana voters.”
Following the results, Trump took to Truth Social to celebrate Cassidy losing, writing, “His disloyalty to the man who got him elected is now a part of legend,” adding, “And it’s nice to see that his political career is OVER!”
Which Republicans Voted to Convict Trump
Trump’s 2021 impeachment trial concluded with 57 senators voting to convict, falling short of the constitutionally mandated two-thirds majority (67 votes) required for a guilty verdict.
Cassidy’s defeat marks the fifth departure among the seven Senate Republicans who voted across party lines. Most of his colleagues avoided bruising primary challenges by choosing retirement. The current status of those seven senators includes:
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- Bill Cassidy of Louisiana (active, but departing)
- Susan Collins of Maine (active)
- Lisa Murkowski of Alaska (active)
- Richard Burr of North Carolina (did not seek reelection in 2022)
- Patrick Toomey of Pennsylvania (did not seek reelection in 2022)
- Ben Sasse of Nebraska (exited Senate in 2023)
- Mitt Romney of Utah (did not seek reelection in 2024)
