President Donald Trump poses with Rep. Julia Letlow, R-La., during the Congressional Ball in the Grand Foyer at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 11, 2025. (Al Drago/Reuters)
"Should she decide to enter this RACE," Trump wrote on social media, "Julia Letlow has my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, JULIA, RUN!!!"
Letlow hinted at launching a Senate run following Trump's post on X, writing, "My mission is clear: to ensure the nation our children inherit is safer and stronger. This United States Senate seat belongs to the people of Louisiana, because we deserve conservative leadership that will not waver."
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There's been speculation for months that Letlow was mulling a Senate bid and a Republican source confirmed to Fox News that the congresswoman, who represents a district that covers parts of central and northeastern Louisiana, had indicated that she wouldn't challenge Cassidy without Trump's backing.
A separate Republican source confirmed to Fox News that Trump had reached out to Thune on Friday to give the Senate's top Republican a heads-up on the Letlow endorsement.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., the chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, is running for re-election in 2026 for a third six-year term representing Louisiana in the Senate. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
The 68-year-old Cassidy is staying in the race.
"I’m proudly running for re-election as a principled conservative who gets things done for the people of Louisiana," Cassidy wrote on social media following Trump's bombshell. "If Congresswoman Letlow decides to run, I am confident I will win."
Cassidy had nearly $10 million in his campaign coffers at the end of October, after his last fundraising filing, with Letlow holding nearly $2.3 million cash on hand. But a burst of campaign cash will likely flow Letlow's way if she follows through and launches a Senate campaign.
The senator — who voted to convict Trump in the Senate impeachment trial following the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters aiming to upend congressional certification of former President Joe Biden's 2020 election victory — early last year supported Trump's controversial cabinet nominees, including Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. for Health secretary.
But the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) PAC, which has close ties to Kennedy, announced on Sunday that it would financially support Letlow.
Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming, a former congressman who served in Trump's first administration, is also challenging Cassidy.
"A recent poll shows our campaign expanding our lead on Bill Cassidy, while Cassidy's numbers continue to drop," Fleming noted on social media two days after Trump's endorsement of Letlow.
State Sen. Blake Miguez and state Rep. Julie Emerson are also running for the GOP Senate nomination, and former Rep. Garrett Graves is mulling a bid.
Trump's endorsement of Letlow increases speculation on whether he'll take sides in the combustible and competitive GOP Senate primary in Texas ahead of the early March primary.
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Longtime Sen. John Cornyn is facing primary challenges from two Trump allies, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt.
Thune speculated last week that Trump wouldn't make an endorsement in the Texas GOP showdown.
Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in the swing state of New Hampshire. He covers the campaign trail from coast to coast."
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-endorsement-rocks-louisiana-senate-race-letlow-poised-jump