Punchbowl News: “The two-term incumbent senator is at risk of not even making the primary runoff, and he’s fuming at the Senate Republican establishment for not helping him enough.”

“President Donald Trump’s hand-picked candidate has been unable to convert that golden-ticket endorsement into a definitive lead.”

“And a third candidate who said he ignored entreaties to drop out from people close to Trump has emerged as a real threat to win.”

“The uncertainty and chaos within just five weeks to the May 16 primary has caught the White House, Trump allies and the Republican establishment by surprise, throwing a wrench in what was supposed to be a low-drama contest. Republicans aren’t going to lose the Louisiana Senate seat, but it’s definitely not going the way GOP power players thought it would.”

“Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA), who President Donald Trump has endorsed to be Louisiana’s next senator, did not follow a federal law that required her to report 210 individual stock trades over the past two years,” the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

“Rep. Julia Letlow announced her primary challenge to Sen. Bill Cassidy on Tuesday, just days after President Donald Trump lent his endorsement in the race,” Politico reports.

“The entrance of Letlow, a Louisiana Republican who has served in Congress since 2021, is a major blow to Cassidy, who was already fending off another MAGA-aligned challenger in a state Trump carried by 22 points in 2024.”

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) said the White House has made it “explicitly clear” President Trump won’t endorse any of his GOP opponents, despite his challengers attacking Cassidy’s MAGA credentials, the Shreveport Times reports.

Playbook: “Cassidy notably voted to convict Trump during the former president’s second impeachment trial in 2021. With that history, the assurance that Trump will not oppose his reelection bid lands as an early holiday gift.”

Former Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) dashed the dreams of Democrats who hoped he would jump into next year’s U.S. Senate race, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Edwards said he will stay out of an election where Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) is facing a strong challenge from three other Republicans.

“Bill Cassidy’s political career was on life support not so long ago. Now Senate Republicans are waiting to see if President Donald Trump will let him make a miraculous recovery,” Politico reports.

“The potential U-turn comes after the two-term Louisiana Republican was written off by much of his party’s MAGA base when he voted in 2021 to convict Trump over his alleged role in fomenting the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. But since January, Cassidy has stuck closely behind Trump, touting his support for the president’s nominees and brushing off questions about his relationship with the White House.”

Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming (R) announced that he is running for the U.S. Senate in 2026 for the seat currently held by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R), WBRZ reports.

Cassidy who voted to convict Trump after he was impeached post January 6.

Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) released a new ad pushing back against calls to “defund the police.”

Said Kennedy, in a straight-to-camera spot: “Look, if you hate cops just because they’re cops, the next time you get in trouble, call a crackhead.”

Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) has announced his reelection campaign for the Senate and received former President Trump’s endorsement, The Hill reports.

Trump used the opportunity to take a shot at Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA): “Unlike Louisiana’s other Senator, Bill Cassidy, who used my name in ads and all over the place in order to get re-elected, and then went ‘stupid,’ John Kennedy is the real deal—a brilliant and highly educated man.”

Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins (D) made the biggest splash on the first day of qualifying for the November 3 election by announcing he will challenge incumbent Sen Bill Cassidy (R-LA), the Shreveport Times reports.

John Kennedy (R) easily beat Foster Campbell (D) in the runoff to succeed retiring Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

“Kennedy will join an emboldened Republican Party in Washington. The GOP kept its majority in the House and control of the Senate — Kennedy’s addition increased that lead to 52-48. Trump, Vice President-elect Mike Pence and GOP congressional leaders have vowed to pursue an aggressive agenda on Day One.”

A new Tulane University poll in Louisiana finds state Treasurer John Kennedy (R) leading Foster Campbell (D) by a wide margin heading into this weekend’s runoff election, 60% to 40%.

“I want to be very clear that my campaign played absolutely no role in creating this story alleging Congressman Boustany’s sexual relationships with prostitutes that were later murdered, his staff’s alleged ­­­in­volvement in running the bar and hotel where this illicit behavior took place, or publishing the book.”

— Louisiana U.S. Senate candidate John Kennedy (R), quoted by the Washington Post, about one of his rivals.