President Donald Trump scored another significant political victory Saturday after his endorsed candidate, Rep. Julia Letlow, won Louisiana’s Republican U.S. Senate primary runoff, reinforcing the president’s continued influence within the GOP.
Letlow defeated Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming with approximately 55% of the vote, earning the Republican nomination for November’s general election. Her victory adds to Trump’s long list of successful endorsements in Republican primary contests.
Trump backed Letlow months before the election, describing her as a strong America First conservative who would fight for Louisiana families and support his agenda in Washington.
Letlow was first elected to Congress in 2021 after the passing of her husband, Luke Letlow, who died from complications related to COVID-19 before taking office. Since then, she has established herself as a reliable conservative voice in the House of Representatives.
Her Senate campaign gained momentum after finishing first in Louisiana’s May Republican primary, where she outpaced both Fleming and incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy.
Cassidy’s defeat marked the end of a long-running political feud with President Trump. The Louisiana senator drew criticism from many Republican voters after voting to impeach Trump following the events of January 6, 2021. Although Cassidy later supported several Trump cabinet nominees, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., tensions between the two remained.
Fleming, a former congressman and former Deputy White House Chief of Staff during Trump’s first administration, also ran as a conservative champion. Throughout the campaign, both candidates emphasized their support for President Trump’s policies while competing for the backing of Republican voters.
In the closing days of the race, Trump repeatedly encouraged Louisiana Republicans to support Letlow. In one social media post, he described her as a “Highly Respected America First Congresswoman,” calling her a “TOTAL WINNER” who has consistently stood with the conservative movement.
Democrats also selected their nominee Saturday, with Jamie Davis winning the Democratic primary by a wide margin after receiving more than three-fourths of the vote.
Political observers had expected the Republican runoff to tighten after several public polls showed Fleming gaining ground. However, Letlow ultimately secured a comfortable victory, demonstrating the continued impact of Trump’s endorsement among Republican primary voters.
According to Ballotpedia, Trump’s endorsements have produced one of the strongest records in modern American politics, with roughly 98% of his endorsed candidates winning their races. While that figure includes uncontested elections and races where endorsements came after candidates had established momentum, it still highlights the president’s significant influence inside today’s Republican Party.
With another endorsed candidate advancing to the general election, Saturday’s Louisiana results provide further evidence that Trump’s support continues to carry substantial weight in Republican primaries across the country. As the 2026 election season continues, both parties will be watching closely to see whether that momentum extends into November.