Representative Julia Letlow has emerged victorious in Louisiana’s Republican Senate runoff, defeating state Treasurer John Fleming in a contest between two staunch conservatives who both emphasized their loyalty to Donald Trump. The Associated Press called the race on Saturday evening, with Letlow capturing approximately 55% of the vote compared to 45% for Fleming, based on data available as of 9:47 p.m. EDT with 39% of the expected ballots counted.
During her victory speech in Baton Rouge, Letlow positioned herself as a determined fighter and offered high praise for the former president, describing him as the greatest president in American history. Acknowledging the intensity of the campaign, she noted that the race was filled with trials, but she expressed pride in being battle-tested ahead of the November 3 general election.
This outcome adds to a successful streak for Trump’s endorsement record during the current midterm cycle. In the May 16 Republican primary, Letlow led the field with 45% of the vote, while Fleming secured 28% and two-term incumbent Senator Bill Cassidy finished with 25%. Letlow first gained significant political attention in 2021 when she won a seat in the 5th Congressional District, running in a special election following the death of her husband due to COVID-19 complications before he could assume office.
Although Fleming, a former congressman and physician who served in Trump’s first administration, campaigned in alignment with the president’s policies, he failed to secure an official endorsement. Despite this, he maintained that they shared a warm relationship. Trump actively supported Letlow by reinforcing his endorsement on social media and hosting a telerally for her on Thursday, though he did not physically visit the state.
The competition between the two candidates became heated, with Fleming criticizing what he described as negative “dark money” advertising campaigns against him. He also attempted to label Letlow as “liberal” by highlighting her past support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Letlow countered this during a debate, stating that the left had hijacked those concepts and emphasized her record of opposing such policies during her tenure in Congress.
With this win, Letlow is set to face Jamie Davis in the November general election. Davis, who was supported by New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno, defeated Gary Crockett in his respective runoff. As of 9:55 p.m. EDT, with 51% of the vote reported, Davis led the contest with approximately 79% of the vote.
