Julia Letlow wins Louisiana Senate GOP runoff election

Julia Letlow (R-LA) won the Louisiana Senate GOP runoff on Saturday, securing nearly 45% of the vote against Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming, who received approximately 28%. Letlow previously won the first-round primary by 16.5 points over Fleming and 20 points over incumbent Senator Bill Cassidy, who finished third in May. Letlow is expected to win the general election in November against the Democratic nominee in the Republican-leaning state. Her campaign was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, who criticized Cassidy for his impeachment vote related to the Capitol riot in 2021. Cassidy's defeat reflects a trend of Republican incumbents losing to Trump-backed challengers this election cycle.