Key facts
- U.S. Representative Julia Letlow, endorsed by President Donald Trump, won the Republican primary runoff for Louisiana's U.S. Senate seat.
- Letlow defeated State Treasurer John Fleming in the runoff.
- Letlow secured nearly 45% of the vote in the initial primary, while Fleming garnered about 28%.
- Letlow also received endorsements from Governor Jeff Landry and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise.
- Fleming criticized Letlow's past support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.
- Letlow supports legislation to bar transgender women and girls from participating in school sports.
In Louisiana's deep-red political landscape, U.S. Representative Julia Letlow, endorsed by President Donald Trump, has secured the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat. Letlow defeated State Treasurer John Fleming in the primary runoff. Trump's endorsement is part of his strategy to back loyalist candidates. Letlow, who won the initial primary with nearly 45% of the vote, also garnered support from Governor Jeff Landry and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise. Fleming, a former House Freedom Caucus member, highlighted his conservative credentials and criticized Letlow's past support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Letlow focused on social conservative issues, including opposition to transgender participation in women's sports. Fleming opposed carbon capture and sequestration projects. Trump carried Louisiana by 22 percentage points in 2024, making Letlow's victory in the general election highly probable.