WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump’s political influence is once again front and center after a major Republican primary upset in Louisiana and with another closely watched GOP battle unfolding in Kentucky.
A political grudge from five years ago helped contribute to the upset of incumbent Senator Bill Cassidy, R-La., in Louisiana’s Senate primary election on Saturday.
Cassidy lost to Trump-backed Congresswoman Julia Letlow and MAGA-friendly Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming. Both Fleming and Letlow will head to a runoff scheduled for June.
The end of his term later this year will be the first time in two decades Cassidy has not served in public office. The physician-turned-politician has spent nearly two decades in Congress, first as a representative, then as senator since 2015. He was a state lawmaker before running for Congress.
“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,” said Sen. Cassidy when addressing his supporters after the loss.
In 2021, Cassidy was one of just seven Republican senators to vote to convict Trump after the January 6 U.S. Capitol riot.
“Donald Trump does not forget and Donald Trump does not forgive unless you come completely over to his side,” said Todd Belt.
Despite Cassidy’s conservative voting record — and support for Trump’s Cabinet nominees, including HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., judges and legislative priorities — it wasn’t enough to win back support from Trump or support from Louisiana Republican primary voters.
“In spite of the fact that Donald Trump’s approval ratings are very low, he still remains incredibly popular among the Republican base. And those are the people who show up in a primary election where you have lower turnout,” said Belt.
Now, attention is shifting to another high-stakes Republican primary in Kentucky. Congressman Thomas Massie, R-Ky., a libertarian-leaning conservative, who has clashed with his own party and the president over the war with Iran, the Epstein files and government spending, is facing Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein.
“Thomas Massie has every right to be concerned because he is behind in the polling right now that we have. And it is just really going to be difficult for him to retain his seat when Donald Trump has all of his efforts targeted on him,” said Belt.
Out of the seven Republican senators who voted to convict President Trump in 2021, only two — besides Cassidy — still currently serve: Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Maine Sen. Susan Collins. Collins is up for reelection this year, and Murkowski in 2028. Murkowski was successful in her election in 2022, even after casting her vote to convict.
The Kentucky primary that will decide the fate of Massie is set for Tuesday. Louisiana’s Republican Senate runoff is scheduled for June 27.
