STAT+: Sen. Bill Cassidy loses primary as race heads to run-off in win for Trump

Bill Cassidy, a key Republican health care leader in the Senate, will lose his seat, as Louisiana’s Senate primary heads for a runoff between state treasurer John Fleming and Rep. Julia Letlow, who won President Trump’s endorsement. In initial election results, Letlow leads with just over 44% of the vote, followed by Fleming with just over 28% percent of the vote. Cassidy came in at 24.8% of the vote. The president has endorsed Letlow, a Trump loyalist who became a proponent for the Covid-19 vaccine in 2021 following the death of her husband to Covid. Cassidy’s defeat is a win for President Trump and his allies, who have criticized the senator for voting in 2021 to convict the president for inciting the January 6 insurrection. Later, Cassidy came into conflict with the administration when he expressed concerns with anti-vaccine statements made by then-health secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. before ultimately voting to confirm him. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus daily intelligence on Capitol Hill and the life sciences industry — by subscribing to STAT+. Already have an account? Log in View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe