Key facts
- U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, endorsed by President Donald Trump, is competing against state Treasurer John Fleming in the Louisiana GOP Senate runoff.
- Letlow secured nearly 45% of the vote in the primary, while Fleming garnered about 28%.
- Letlow has received endorsements from Governor Jeff Landry and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise.
- Fleming has criticized Letlow's past support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.
- Fleming opposes carbon capture and sequestration projects, citing private property rights concerns.
- Letlow supports legislation to bar transgender women and girls from participating in school sports.
In Louisiana, U.S. Representative Julia Letlow, who has secured the endorsement of President Donald Trump, is facing off against state Treasurer John Fleming in the Republican primary runoff for the U.S. Senate seat. Trump's backing of Letlow is part of his broader strategy to replace Republican lawmakers who have not aligned with him. Letlow, who won the May 16 primary with nearly 45% of the vote, also has the support of Governor Jeff Landry and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise.
Fleming, a former member of the House Freedom Caucus, has emphasized his conservative credentials and reminded voters of his loyalty to Trump. He has also criticized Letlow's past support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, sharing an AI-generated video that purported to show her supporting DEI, which Letlow condemned as "disgraceful and indefensible."
Letlow has focused on social conservative issues, including opposition to transgender participation in women's sports. Fleming's campaign has centered on his opposition to carbon capture and sequestration projects, which have drawn backlash in rural Louisiana. The state is heavily Republican, with Trump having carried it by 22 percentage points in 2024. In the Democratic primary, Jamie Davis and Gary Crockett are competing for their party's nomination.