Trump endorsements in Louisiana congressional races pit Republicans against each other

President Donald Trump’s endorsements in Louisiana’s congressional races were called into question Wednesday during the first day of qualifying for the May 16 party primaries, with one passed over Republican candidate alleging Gov. Jeff Landry had a hand in the process.

State Treasurer John Fleming worked for the first Trump administration in multiple roles, including senior White House adviser, but he did not get the president’s backing for his U.S. Senate run. Trump’s support went instead to U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, R-Baton Rouge, after he urged her to challenge incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge.

After qualifying at the Secretary of State’s office, Fleming described Trump’s endorsement of Letlow as a “scheme” that the governor was behind. 

“Jeff Landry has been working on this endorsement over a year,” Fleming told reporters after he qualified. “I’ve heard about it from a number of people.”

The governor’s office and the Letlow campaign did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

Fleming described himself as the “true conservative” over Letlow in the U.S. Senate race, citing his voting record and longer tenure as a congressman from 2009-17. He also recalled that Cassidy was a Democrat before he joined the Republican Party to run for the Louisiana Senate in 2005. 

Letlow’s entry into the U.S. Senate field led state Sen. Blake Miguez, R-New Iberia, to leave that race and join the contest for Letlow’s U.S. House seat in the 5th Congressional District. Shortly after the switch, Trump threw his support behind Miguez, whom he called a “MAGA warrior.”

Miguez, who also qualified Wednesday, declined to share details when asked about conversations he had with the Trump administration leading up to his endorsement. He fielded few questions from reporters, saying he had campaign events on his schedule.  

Miguez’s backing from the president, as well as the fact he doesn’t live in the 5th District, provided fodder for other Republicans who qualified Wednesday for the race.

“This race is not my consolation prize. This is what I wanted from the beginning,” Misti Cordell of Monroe said. “And as far as the endorsement from President Trump, he just hadn’t had the opportunity to meet me yet.”

Cordell, who owns a health care business, is the governor’s appointed chair of the Louisiana Board of Regents, which oversees college education in Louisiana. She said she would not approach Landry for his endorsement in the 5th District race. 

State Sen. Rick Edmonds, R-Baton Rouge, officially joined the 5th Congressional District race Wednesday and pointed out his competitor lived well outside its boundaries. Members of Congress do not have to reside in the districts they represent, though Miguez said he has had a residence in Baton Rouge since he attended LSU and also expanded his family’s business to the city.

Miguez claimed other candidates in the 5th District race do not reside within the district but would not name anyone when pressed by reporters.

Edmonds touted his local endorsements, including Baton Rouge Mayor Sid Edwards and St. George Mayor Dustin Yates who were at his side Wednesday.

“Senator Miguez lives closer to Beaumont than he does Baton Rouge, and he lives closer to Conroe than he does Monroe,” Edmonds said.

Letlow and Cassidy have yet to qualify for the U.S. Senate race and have until 4:30 p.m. Friday to officially submit their names.

In addition to Fleming, Democrat Jamie Davis, a farmer from Ferriday, filed Wednesday to run in the U.S. Senate party primaries. 

Candidates in other races who had qualified as of Wednesday are:

1st Congressional District

• Democrat: Lauren Jewett, a special education teacher who lives in Jefferson Parish and works in New Orleans
• Republican: Randall Arrington, a retired Navy veteran from Ponchatoula

2nd Congressional District

• Democrat: U.S. Rep. Troy Carter of New Orleans, who’s held the seat since 2021

3rd Congressional District

• Democrat: John Day, a former insurance industry employee from Lake Charles; and Tia LeBrun, an educator from Sulphur
• Republican: U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins of Lafayette, who has represented the district since 2017

4th Congressional District

• Democrat: Conrad Cable, a produce farmer from Farmerville
• Republican: U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who took his seat in Congress nine years ago; and Joshua Morott of Vernon Parish, who works in retail

5th Congressional District

• Democrat: Jessee Fleenor, a farmer from Loranger; Larry Foy, a theologian and social justice advocate from Winnsboro; and Dan McKay, a lawyer in Bunkie
• Republican: Misti Cordell; Rick Edmonds; Austin Magee, an industrial contracting company owner from Franklinton; Michael Mebruer, a traveling medical worker from St. Francisville; and Sammy Wyatt of Denham Springs, a retired police officer who now works for LSU Health-Shreveport in fiscal compliance

6th Congressional District

• Democrat: U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields of Baton Rouge, who took office last year and represented a previous version of the 4th Congressional District from 1993-97.
• Republican: Monique Appeaning of St. George, who’s on the staff of Baton Rouge Mayor Sid Edwards; Larry Davis of Denham Springs; and Peter Williams, a farmer from Pointe Coupee Parish.

Louisiana Supreme Court, 1st District

• Republican: Judge Billy Burris of Franklinton; and Judge Blair Downing Edwards of Hammond

Louisiana Supreme Court, 3rd District

• Republican: Associate Justice Cade Cole of Lake Charles, the current occupant  

Louisiana Supreme Court, 5th District

• Republican: Associate Justice Jay McCallum of Farmerville, the current seat holder

Public Service Commission, District 1

• Democrat: Connie Norris, a retired teacher from Slidell
• Republican: “Big John” Mason, a Metairie lawyer; and state Rep. Mark Wright of Covington

Public Service Commission, District 5

• Democrat: Shreveport City Councilman James Green, a church pastor
• Republican: Caddo Parish Commissioner John Atkins, an investment executive; and Aiden Joyner of West Monroe 

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, District 1

• Republican: Ellie Schroder of Abita Springs, a career teacher and wife of former state treasurer  John Schroder; and Joseph Cao of Harvey, a former congressman