Rep. Julia Letlow (R-La.) is jumping into the race to challenge Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) in the wake of President Trump’s shocking endorsement of her over the weekend.
“It’s an honor to share with you today that I’m officially announcing my candidacy for the United States Senate,” she told attendees at a breakfast in Baton Rouge on Tuesday, Politico and other outlets first reported.
Cassidy launched his re-election bid for a third term last year and has the backing of Senate GOP leadership.
Trump didn’t mention him by name when he backed Letlow, who has been toying with a run for months.
“Congresswoman Letlow called me this morning to say she was running,” Cassidy said in a statement.
“She said she respected me and that I had done a good job. I will continue to do a good job when I win re-election,” the Louisiana senator added.
“I am a conservative who wakes up every morning thinking about how to make Louisiana and the United States a better place to live.”
