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Washington — President Trump endorsed a possible major challenger to Louisiana Sen. Invoice Cassidy late Saturday, encouraging Rep. Julia Letlow to run for the seat held by the Republican who has sometimes damaged together with his occasion.
Mr. Trump praised Letlow in a publish on Reality Social whereas pledging to again the Republican congresswoman if she launches a bid within the Louisiana Senate race.
“Ought to she determine to enter this Race, Julia Letlow has my Full and Whole Endorsement. RUN, JULIA, RUN!!!” the president stated.
Cassidy, who’s looking for a 3rd time period within the Senate, was certainly one of seven Senate Republicans who voted to convict Mr. Trump in his impeachment trial after the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol in 2021. A medical physician, Cassidy has additionally been at odds with the administration in current months over HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s management.
Cassidy delivered the important thing vote to advance Kennedy’s nomination out of committee in February, cementing his affirmation to the publish. Regardless of expressing misgivings over Kennedy’s nomination due to the doubts he has raised about vaccines for many years, Cassidy in the end supported him, citing “critical commitments” he stated he’d acquired from the administration. However since then, Cassidy has damaged with the HHS secretary on a number of events, together with calling for the postponement of key vaccine advisory panel conferences and slamming a change to the hepatitis B vaccine schedule for infants.
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Name, Inc through Getty Photographs 
Nonetheless, the Louisiana Republican has repeatedly emphasised his cooperation with the administration in current months. Late final 12 months, Cassidy, who leads the Senate Committee on Well being, Schooling, Labor and Pensions, labored to spearhead a brand new strategy to handle well being care prices that Mr. Trump had touted. Amid a push to increase medical health insurance tax credit by Democrats, Cassidy launched a measure to place funds into well being financial savings accounts because the president pushed for sending cash on to Individuals moderately than insurance coverage corporations.
Cassidy responded to Mr. Trump’s publish on social media Saturday.
“I am proudly working for re-election as a principled conservative who will get issues carried out for the folks of Louisiana,” Cassidy stated in a publish on X. “If Congresswoman Letlow decides to run I’m assured I’ll win.”
Letlow, who grew to become the primary Republican lady elected to characterize Louisiana in Congress in 2021, has not beforehand introduced a Senate bid. She got here to the Home after profitable a particular election for Louisiana’s fifth Congressional District following the demise of her husband, who died in 2020 from problems associated to COVID-19 earlier than he could possibly be sworn into workplace.
Letlow thanked the president for his help in a publish on X Saturday.
“I am honored to have President Trump’s endorsement and belief. My mission is evident: to make sure the nation our youngsters inherit is safer and stronger,” Letlow stated. “This United States Senate seat belongs to the folks of Louisiana, as a result of we deserve conservative management that won’t waver.”
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