North Louisiana Congresswoman Julia Letlow is entering the Republican primary to unseat United States Senator Bill Cassidy.
Rep. Letlow (R-Start) announced her candidacy in the Republican Party closed primary election during an engagement in Baton Rouge on Monday. Letlow joins a crowded field of GOP challengers seeking to unseat Sen. Cassidy, including state Rep. Julie Emerson (R-Carencro), state Sen. Blake Miguez (R-New Iberia), and Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta (R-Metairie). Letlow's announcement came days after President Donald Trump endorsed her candidacy on social media, urging her to enter the Senate race.
According to one analyst, Letlow will have the backing of both Trump and another major Republican figure.
"Not only is she getting Donald Trump, but she's also going to get Jeff Landry," LAPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford told WWL's Tommy Tucker. "It's kind of a one-two punch for her."
Alford says that gives Letlow the benefit of having two politicians who are willing to fight dirty on her behalf, a style antithetical to Letlow's
"You have two guys who are hardnosed campaigners," Alford said. "They don't pull punches. They're very critical. They're kind of everything Julia Letlow is not known for, so they're going to be really good surrogates for her."
Alford noted that Trump's endorsement of Letlow comes despite the other Republican candidates touting their MAGA bonafides on the campaign trail.
"All of those folks certainly would have loved to have the president's endorsement, but it looks like it's going with Julia Letlow," Alford said.
Alford added that Trump has rebuffed Sen. Cassidy's efforts to get back into his good graces.
"I think we all know that Donald Trump's politics and his style (are) he doesn't forgive and forget," Alford said. "Bill Cassidy tried. He went from voting against (Trump) in the impeachment proceedings to saying recently that he should get the Nobel Peace Price. If you just look on any of his social media accounts, you'll see him cheering Trump. He's really been one of Trump's biggest cheerleaders."
In a social media post, Sen. Cassidy said Rep. Letlow called him this morning to tell him she was running against him.
"She said she respected me and that I had done a good job," Sen. Cassidy wrote. "I will continue to do a good job when I win re-election."