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Louisiana state Rep. Julie Emerson announced on Thursday that she was nixing her U.S. Senate bid in light of President Donald Trump-backed U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow entering the GOP primary.
“With Congresswoman Letlow’s entrance into the race, the path to victory that was visible a couple of months ago has diminished. I support President Trump and respect his decision to endorse Julia Letlow to defeat Bill Cassidy. Because of this, I’m choosing to end my campaign now,” Emerson said in a statement.
Incumbent Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who has served in the U.S. Senate since 2015, is running for re-election.
TRUMP ENDORSEMENT ROCKS LOUSIANA SENATE RACE AS LETLOW JUMPS IN
Still shot from “Julie Emerson to challenge Cassidy for U.S. Senate.” (YouTube/@JulieEmersonLA)
After the House impeached Trump in 2021, Cassidy was one of the Senate Republicans who voted to convict during a vote that occurred after Trump had already departed from office — the Senate vote ultimately fell short of the threshold required to convict Trump.
The president pledged his endorsement to Letlow in a Truth Social post on Saturday.
WHO IS JOHN FLEMING, THE FREEDOM CAUCUS FOUNDING MEMBER CHALLENGING GOP SEN BILL CASSIDY?
Chairman Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., arrives for a hearing of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Sept. 17, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
“Should she decide to enter this Race, Julia Letlow has my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, JULIA, RUN!!!” the president exclaimed in the post.
Letlow launched a Senate bid days later.
GOP LOUISIANA STATE SENATOR SAYS HE’S RUNNING FOR US SENATE BECAUSE INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN ‘SUCKS’
President Donald Trump, Rep. Julia Letlow, R-La., and first lady Melania Trump during the Congressional Ball in the Grand Foyer of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (Shawn Thew/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Today, I am announcing my candidacy for the United States Senate to ensure the nation we leave our children is safer and stronger. Louisiana deserves a conservative Senator who will not waver. I am honored to have President Trump’s endorsement and trust. Let’s Geaux!” she declared in a Tuesday post on X.
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Louisiana state Treasurer John Fleming and state Sen. Blake Miguez are also running in the Republican U.S. Senate primary in the state.
