Sen. Bill Cassidy loses Louisiana Republican Senate primary

"Saturday marked the first time in more than 50 years that Louisiana used a closed-primary system to choose its U.S. senator, a change widely viewed as putting Cassidy at a disadvantage. In his previous primary victories, Cassidy's main opposition came from Democrats. Trump endorsed Letlow, a U.S. House member from the northeastern part of the state, in January. Fleming cast himself as a Trump and MAGA ally, despite not having the president's endorsement."

Cassidy drew backlash after voting to convict Trump during the Senate impeachment trial tied to the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot. Trump was acquitted, but sought retribution against Republicans who supported impeachment. Cassidy also opposed Casey Means’ nomination for surgeon general, angering Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the MAHA movement. Means is a health influencer and close Kennedy ally, and she is the sister of Calley Means, a top Kennedy adviser. Kennedy and supporters portray Cassidy, a physician-turned-senator who chairs the Senate HELP Committee, as representing the medical establishment they want to overturn. Louisiana used a closed-primary system for the first time in over 50 years, widely seen as disadvantaging Cassidy. Cassidy’s prior primary opposition came mainly from Democrats, while Trump endorsed Letlow and Fleming positioned himself as a Trump and MAGA ally without the president’s endorsement.

Read at Axios