Julia Letlow wins Louisiana GOP Senate runoff against John Fleming

Rep. Julia Letlow has won the Republican primary runoff for the U.S. Senate seat in Louisiana, defeating state Treasurer John Fleming, according to projections by the Associated Press. Letlow will replace Sen. Bill Cassidy, who did not secure enough votes in the primary to advance to the runoff. The primary was necessitated as no candidate achieved the required 50% of the vote. Cassidy was eliminated in the primary, having faced criticism from former President Donald Trump, who endorsed Letlow earlier this year. Trump described Cassidy as 'disloyal' for his vote to convict him during the impeachment trial following the January 6 Capitol attack. Letlow, who has served in the House since 2021, is the first Republican woman elected from Louisiana to Congress. She has emphasized her support for Trump's agenda and criticized Fleming as a career politician. With her victory, Letlow is positioned favorably in a state that has historically leaned Republican, having last elected a Democrat to the Senate in 2008.