Sen. Bill Cassidy's 2026 primary looms as Rep. Julia Letlow considers running

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Rep. Julia Letlow is seriously considering mounting a primary challenge against Sen. Bill Cassidy, her fellow Louisiana Republican, according to three GOP sources familiar with the matter. And she has received encouragement from the White House to jump into the race, two sources said.

Letlow, 44, has been weighing her options carefully over the past few months but has not put a timeline on making a decision, though sources say she has grown more serious about the idea of running for the Senate.

Multiple MAGA-aligned candidates are already vying to take on Cassidy, who voted to convict President Donald Trump on impeachment charges following the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Cassidy, a physician, has recently been in the spotlight taking on Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccine policy.

But even with a trio of Republican candidates already in the race, Letlow, who was seen meeting with a GOP megadonor this week at the Capitol Hill Club, has been the subject of recruiting efforts.

She could be a formidable challenger to Cassidy — especially if she has Trump’s backing. One of the GOP sources said the White House has assured Letlow that its support would be there if she chooses to jump into the race.

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A House Republican who is close to Letlow said that while she has been giving serious consideration to running for the Senate, she still has some reservations about giving up her House seat and her coveted position on the powerful Appropriations Committee. She is also cognizant of how much money it would take to defeat Cassidy, who has backing from Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Tim Scott of South Carolina.

Trump’s endorsement would make Letlow’s path a lot clearer. He has yet to wade into the race and is waiting to see how the field develops, according to two of the GOP sources. The sources also said the White House was concerned that Trump’s getting involved in the primary, especially too early on, could alienate Cassidy, who chairs a key committee and has provided some pivotal votes for the GOP this year — including to confirm Kennedy to his Cabinet post.

Three other Republicans are already seeking Cassidy's seat in 2026: state Treasurer John Fleming, a former member of Congress; state Sen. Blake Miguez; and state Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta, a former co-chairman of Trump’s presidential campaigns in Louisiana.

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