By Katharine Jackson
WASHINGTON, June 28 (Reuters) – U.S. Representative Julia Letlow has won the Republican nomination for Senate in Louisiana, according to state election results, capitalizing on an endorsement from President Donald Trump after defeating a sitting senator who has repeatedly drawn the president’s ire.
In a runoff primary election held on Saturday, Letlow defeated state Treasurer John Fleming, according to results posted on the Louisiana Secretary of State’s office website.
The two candidates faced off after a closely fought three-way battle with two-term Republican U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, who lost his bid for re-election in May.
Letlow, who won Trump’s endorsement before she had even announced her candidacy, was congratulated by the president late on Saturday.
“Great News!!! Julia Letlow WON in Louisiana, beating conclusively a very strong and smart opponent. Congratulations to Julia. She will be a truly GREAT Senator!” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Cassidy’s defeat came after he voted to convict Trump in the second Senate impeachment trial in 2021. At the Capitol last week, he got into a shouting match with Trump over the Iran war after voting in favor of a resolution to halt military action against Iran.
Letlow, who once worked as an educator and university administrator, was elected to Congress in 2021 in a special election to replace her late husband, Luke Letlow.
Letlow will face Democrat Jamie Davis, a farmer, in the general election and is heavily favored to win.
(Reporting by Katharine Jackson; Editing by Chris Reese)
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