Trump-Backed Candidate Likely Headed for Senate

A congresswoman backed by President Trump is on track to move from the House to the Senate after winning Louisiana's Republican primary runoff on Saturday, reports Politico. Rep. Julia Letlow defeated state Treasurer John Fleming in the closely watched race, which was called by the AP on Saturday night. The runoff followed a May primary in which GOP incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy, shunned by Trump allies over his impeachment vote, finished third and was knocked out—an unusual early exit for a sitting senator. Letlow is almost certain to win the November general election in the deep-red state.

Letlow's victory gives Trump another primary-season victory and likely adds a reliable ally for Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, who aggressively campaigned for her and leaned on donors to back her. Letlow, the first Republican woman to represent the state in the House, previously survived attacks over a 2020 video in which she voiced support for diversity initiatives, a stance she has since walked back. Fleming, a founding member of the House Freedom Caucus and former Trump administration official, also ran as a Trump supporter but couldn't overcome the power of the official endorsement, notes NBC News.