U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Julia Letlow, R-La., speaks to supporters during an election night watch party Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)Matthew Hinton/AP Photo/Matthew Hinton
In a contest between two unwavering conservative candidates in Louisiana who promoted their allegiance to President Donald Trump throughout their campaigns, Rep. Julia Letlow is poised to win the state’s Republican Senate runoff, according to projections by the Associated Press on Saturday evening.
As of 9:47 p.m. EDT, with 39% of the anticipated vote tallied, Letlow secured approximately 55% of the ballots, triumphing over Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming, who garnered about 45% of the vote, as reported by the AP.
Delivering her victory address in Baton Rouge, Letlow portrayed herself as a determined combatant and expressed profound admiration for Trump.
She referred to him as "the most exceptional president this nation has ever witnessed."
U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Julia Letlow, R-La., speaks to supporters during an election night watch party Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)Matthew Hinton/AP Photo/Matthew Hinton
"I recognized it would be a challenging campaign, fraught with obstacles, but I am profoundly honored to declare that I am genuinely prepared for November 3rd, and we are going to emerge victorious," Letlow stated.
Her triumph signifies another success for the president and validates his endorsement strategy during this midterm election period. In the Republican primary held on May 16, Letlow secured the lead with approximately 45% of the vote, surpassing Fleming, who received about 28%, according to the AP. Voters rejected the two-term incumbent Senator Bill Cassidy, who trailed with roughly 25% of the vote.
Letlow gained significant political visibility in 2021 following her election to represent the 5th Congressional District. She competed in a special election after her husband, who had been elected to that district’s representation, tragically passed away from COVID-19 complications before assuming office.
Fleming, a medical doctor and former congressman who also held various positions within Trump’s initial administration, largely mirrored the president’s platform, despite not securing his endorsement. The treasurer had previously communicated to ABC News that they "share a cordial relationship."
U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Julia Letlow speaks to media during an election night watch party, May 16, 2026, in Baton Rouge, La.Matthew Hinton/AP Photo, FILE
In pursuit of his objective to remove perceived political adversaries, Trump implored Louisianans to cast their votes against Cassidy, who in 2021 voted to impeach the president following the January 6th insurrection. This week, Trump and Cassidy engaged in disputes regarding the outgoing senator’s vote to curtail Trump’s authority amid the conflict in Iran, as reported by ABC News.
With Cassidy no longer a candidate, some Louisiana residents might have felt less impetus to participate in the runoff, according to Lionel Rainey III, a Republican strategist.
"Certain individuals mobilized in the initial round solely to oppose Cassidy. That objective has now been met," he informed ABC News prior to the election.
Nevertheless, Letlow entered the race with a stronger position to secure victory, as stated by Robert Hogan, a political science professor at Louisiana State University, to ABC News.
Trump did not visit the Pelican State but reinforced his endorsement of Letlow on social media as early voting commenced and conducted a tele-rally for the congresswoman on Thursday.
The electoral competition between Letlow and Fleming became contentious at certain junctures. The treasurer voiced strong criticism regarding what he described as "dark money" and a barrage of negative advertisements directed at him, particularly concerning illegal immigration, even while advocating for enhanced border security.
Fleming also adopted an approach similar to Cassidy’s. He characterized the congresswoman as "liberal," notably in response to remarks she made supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) during her interview for the presidency at the University of Louisiana at Monroe in 2020.
Letlow asserted in a debate this year against Fleming that since that time, "the left has completely co-opted DEI," subsequently adding that she has "dedicated the past five years in Congress to opposing it."
Letlow will contend against Democrat Jamie Davis, who received the endorsement of New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno in the deeply Republican state this November. Davis, a farmer, triumphed in the state’s Democratic Senate runoff against Gary Crockett, according to projections by the AP. As of 9:55 p.m. EDT, with 51% of the projected vote counted, Davis obtained approximately 79% of the vote, while Crockett garnered 21%.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com