Louisiana Senate Race 2026

Compare candidates running in this Louisiana federal race. Review their positions, voting records, campaign promises, and donor information.

Jamie LaBranche

Party: Independent

Mark Spencer

Party: Republican

Gary Crockett

Party: Democrat

Nick Albares

Party: Democrat

Jamie Davis

Party: Democrat

John Fleming

Party: Republican

Julia Letlow

Party: Republican

Bill Cassidy

Party: Republican

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Louisiana Senate Race

Election: Nov 3, 2026Updated: Apr 6, 2026
📊Polling+1 Fleming over Letlow
Primary polling only available; Republican primary shows competitive race between Fleming (26%), Letlow (25%), and Cassidy (22%)
Source: JMC Analytics and Polling2026-02-19
26%
Fleming
25%
Letlow
22%
Cassidy
27%
Undecided
pending primary-resultsother

Not applicable - Louisiana is a safe Republican state. Whoever wins the Republican primary will overwhelmingly be favored in the general election. Democrats have not won a Louisiana U.S. Senate seat since 2008.

Jamie LaBrancheI
Mark SpencerR
Gary CrockettD
Nick AlbaresD
Jamie DavisD
John FlemingR
Julia LetlowR
Bill CassidyR

Summary

Jamie LaBranche is an Independent candidate running in the general election for U.S. Senate. He is part of the general election ballot on November 3, 2026, following the primary elections. Limited biographical information is publicly available.

Mark Spencer is a Republican from Belle Chasse, Louisiana. He qualified for the Republican primary on February 13, 2026. Very limited biographical information is publicly available. He is one of four Republicans in the primary alongside incumbent Bill Cassidy, Julia Letlow, and John Fleming.

Gary Crockett is a New Orleans-based Democrat and retired Navy veteran who lists experience as a data scientist and political consultant. He is a business owner. Limited biographical information is publicly available regarding his platform or background.

Nick Albares is a New Orleans-based Democrat and nonprofit executive. He previously served as a policy adviser for former Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards and currently works for Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana. Limited biographical information is publicly available.

Jamie Davis is a third-generation Louisiana farmer and small-business owner from Waterproof in Tensas Parish in northeast Louisiana. He is a member of the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee after running for State Representative in District 21 in 2023. Davis owns and operates Davis Farms, a 2,000+ acre operation founded by his father in 1977, producing sorghum, corn, soybeans, and cotton on land that includes acreage once worked by his grandfather as a sharecropper. He was elected Police Juror for District 7 in Tensas Parish in 2015 and served four years, including as Vice President of the Police Jury.

John Calvin Fleming Jr. is a 74-year-old physician, entrepreneur, military veteran, and current Louisiana State Treasurer (2024-present). Fleming served in the U.S. House representing Louisiana's 4th Congressional District from 2009 to 2017, serving four terms. During his House tenure, he was a co-founder of the House Freedom Caucus alongside Jim Jordan, Ron DeSantis, and Mark Meadows. After leaving Congress, Fleming served in the Trump administration in multiple capacities: Deputy Assistant Secretary of Health Information Technology Reform at HHS, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, and Deputy Chief of Staff to President Trump (2020-2021). Fleming remained at the White House until the last day of Trump's first term on January 20, 2021. He was elected Louisiana State Treasurer in 2023 with over 65% of the vote in the November runoff.

Julia Letlow is a 44-year-old Republican U.S. Representative from Louisiana's 5th Congressional District since 2021. She earned her B.A. and M.A. in speech communications from the University of Louisiana at Monroe and her Ph.D. from the University of South Florida. She served as a university professor and administrator before her election to Congress. Letlow was first elected in a 2021 special election to replace her late husband, Luke Letlow, who died of COVID-19 in December 2020 before taking office. She won re-election in 2022 with 67.6% and 2024 with 62.9%. Letlow sits on the House Appropriations Committee and has become a prominent Trump-aligned Republican voice. She is the first Republican woman elected to Congress from Louisiana.

Bill Cassidy is a physician and two-term U.S. Senator from Louisiana who was first elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2020 with 59.3% of the vote. He previously served in the Louisiana State Senate (2006-2008) and the U.S. House representing Louisiana's 6th Congressional District (2009-2015). Cassidy co-founded the Greater Baton Rouge Community Clinic and worked in charity hospitals early in his medical career. He currently serves as chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee and has focused on healthcare reform, prescription drug costs, and mental health legislation.

Campaign Promises

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Economy
  • Strengthen Louisiana's economy
  • Lower cost of living for working families
Healthcare
  • Expand access to affordable healthcare
Education
  • Support quality education and opportunity
Justice
  • Constitutional checks and balances
Other
  • Conservative leadership aligned with Trump and America First
  • Experience-based leadership
Immigration
  • Secure borders and defend American values
Economy
  • Protect Louisiana jobs
Environment
  • Fight carbon capture and sequestration projects
Other
  • Unwavering conservative leadership
  • Address flooding and insurance crisis
Economy
  • America First policies
Immigration
  • Secure borders
Education
  • Eliminate woke ideology from education system
  • Parent's Bill of Rights
Healthcare
  • Healthcare leadership
Economy
  • Energy independence
  • Disaster recovery and economic relief
Defense
  • Halt Fentanyl Act

Key Issue Positions

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Affordable healthcare
Healthcare is a basic human need; comprehensive access required
Supports ACA subsidies, Medicaid access, prescription drug price controls, mental health/addiction treatment, Medicare option for all, telehealth expansion, elimination of medical bankruptcy
Education
Supports strong public education and workforce development
Advocates for competitive teacher pay, affordable college access, vocational training, technical career preparation
Economic fairness
Pro-worker, pro-small business focus on fair wages and opportunity
Farmer and small business owner background; emphasizes fair tax policies, affordable housing, fair wages
Constitutional governance
Supports constitutional checks and balances
Emphasizes separation of powers, personal freedoms, religious liberty protection
Immigration reform
Practical immigration reform combining lawful enforcement with humane policies
Not a leading campaign issue; positioned as balanced approach
Trump alignment and America First
Strongest Trump loyalist among major Republican candidates; remained in White House until final day of Trump term
Emphasized staying with Trump after January 6, 2021, when others left; claims to be last staffer to depart
Border security
Strong border security advocate
Campaign emphasizes securing borders; part of House Freedom Caucus conservative voting
Carbon capture and sequestration
Strongly opposed to CCS projects
Fleming told Alexandria Kiwanis Club he is 'strongly opposed to carbon capture and sequestration projects in Louisiana' - distinguishing position from Cassidy
Second Amendment
Strong Second Amendment supporter
Campaign claims to have 'passed a federal pro-second amendment law'
Anti-abortion
Staunch opponent of abortion
Campaign identifies Fleming as 'a staunch opponent of abortion'
Education and parental rights
Strong opponent of DEI and 'woke ideology' in schools; supports parent oversight
Authored Parent's Bill of Rights (H.R. 5) which passed the House in 2023, requiring school districts to make curricula public and provide parents with information on library materials
Border security and immigration
Supports strict border security and legal enforcement
Campaign emphasizes securing borders; criticized Biden administration for immigration detainee releases in Louisiana
Support for Trump and America First agenda
Ardent Trump supporter with Trump endorsement
Received Trump endorsement in January 2026; campaign emphasizes fighting alongside Trump
Law enforcement and public safety
Supports law enforcement
Campaign emphasis on supporting law enforcement and securing borders
Flooding and disaster recovery
Advocates for federal accountability and infrastructure improvement
Campaign focus on addressing flooding and insurance crisis through infrastructure and federal funding; emphasized work on Appropriations Committee
Education
Support for traditional education focus; recently outlined priorities including addressing declining child literacy, improving dyslexia support, and examining antisemitism on college campuses
Cassidy has shifted focus to education priorities as chair of Senate HELP Committee
Energy and Jobs
Strong supporter of Louisiana oil and gas industry
Co-sponsored Supporting Made in America Energy Act; advocates for more federal lease sales
Healthcare
Supports healthcare reform focused on prescription drug costs; cautious on vaccine policy changes
Voted to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as HHS secretary despite concerns about Kennedy's anti-vaccine stance. Has since criticized Kennedy's decision to end hepatitis B vaccine recommendation for newborns.
Securing the border
Listed as key campaign issue
Campaign website emphasizes border security
Trump support
Attempted to repair relationship with Trump after 2021 impeachment vote
Cassidy has increasingly aligned with Trump agenda since Trump's 2024 election victory, featuring Trump photos on social media

Top Donors

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Club for Growth
$271,476Conservative PAC
Top donor from House tenure
Louisiana Values PAC
$271,476Leadership PAC
Fleming's own leadership PAC
Individual contributions
$350,000+ (from personal loans)Self-financing
Fleming lent $2 million to campaign in March 2025, then withdrew $2 million in June 2025
American Israel Public Affairs Committee
$180,150Lobbying PAC
Top donor to Letlow
Lobbyists
$180,150Industry
Second largest donor category
Start Rising PAC
$58,450Leadership PAC
Letlow's leadership PAC
Securities & Investment sector
$1,557,360Industry
Top industry donor; includes Welsh, Carson and other investment firms
Leadership PAC: Continuing America's Strength & Security
$142,480Leadership PAC
Cassidy's own leadership PAC

Contradictions

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Claim: Fleming remained loyal to Trump through first term
Contradiction: While Fleming claims to have stayed until 'last day' of Trump administration, his campaign announcement in December 2024 contradicts his stated loyalty, as he seeks higher office after backing Trump
Source: Campaign announcement, administration records
Claim: Fleming only raised $2.1 million in Q2 2025
Contradiction: $2 million of $2.1 million came from personal loans to his own campaign that he subsequently withdrew. Actual independent fundraising was only ~$100,000 in Q2, far below threshold for defeating incumbent.
Source: Verite News (July 2025), FEC filings
Claim: Fleming questions 2020 election integrity
Contradiction: During 2023 State Treasurer campaign, Fleming said he was 'unsure' who won 2020 election and implied voter fraud in multiple states without providing evidence, similar to Trump's rejected court allegations
Source: Louisiana Illuminator (December 2024)
Claim: Letlow campaigns against DEI policies and 'woke ideology'
Contradiction: Resurfaced videos and past statements show Letlow previously backed expansion of DEI-related infrastructure at universities, including expressing openness to establishing diversity initiative offices. Campaign claims she was saying what needed to be said for university employment.
Source: American Liberty News (April 2026); Letlow campaign spokesman statement
Claim: Letlow is a true conservative committed to Trump's vision
Contradiction: Limited voting record in House; campaign message is primarily aligned with Trump opposition to Cassidy rather than demonstrated conservative accomplishments
Source: Campaign record, voting history
Claim: Cassidy supports Trump and has a strong working relationship with the president
Contradiction: Cassidy voted to convict Trump in 2021 impeachment trial and publicly opposed Trump's 2024 candidacy, citing four criminal indictments. Trump called him 'A TOTAL FLAKE' in April 2024.
Source: NBC News, Fox News, Louisiana Illuminator, Trump Truth Social posts
Claim: Cassidy supports RFK Jr. as HHS Secretary
Contradiction: Cassidy voted to confirm Kennedy but has repeatedly criticized his vaccine policy decisions, calling the decision to eliminate hepatitis B vaccine recommendations for newborns 'a mistake.' Kennedy rolled back vaccine recommendations contrary to Cassidy's stated assurances.
Source: 19th News, Trump administration vaccine policy changes (2025)
Claim: Cassidy opposes DEI initiatives as part of 'woke ideology'
Contradiction: Cassidy voted for FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act that created Chief Diversity Officers, the Infrastructure Act with Digital Equity provisions, and CHIPS Act with diversity requirements. He later criticized Biden Commerce Department's equity requirements but voted for the underlying legislation that embedded diversity provisions.
Source: Breitbart, voting records
Claim: Cassidy is a consistent conservative following Senate precedent
Contradiction: Cassidy has voted against traditional party lines on Trump-related issues but also supported bipartisan legislation including gun safety and infrastructure bills, which some conservatives cite as insufficiently conservative.
Source: Multiple campaign sources, voting record

What Opponents Say

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Bill Cassidy

Fleming wanted job in Trump administration and it was rejected, so now he's running for Senate after less than a year as State Treasurer

Cassidy campaign spokesman statement questioning Fleming's commitment to treasurer role

Governor Jeff Landry

Fleming 'may not be fit for office'

Landry response after Fleming criticized the governor for meddling in election

Bill Cassidy

Letlow called Cassidy to say she respected him and he had done a good job

Cassidy's public response when Letlow announced her candidacy, suggesting mutual respect

Bill Cassidy

Attack ads calling Letlow 'Liberal Letlow' for stock trading and DEI support

Campaign billboard and advertising comparing Letlow to Nancy Pelosi on stock trading; Cassidy denied direct involvement in ads

Julia Letlow

A state as conservative as ours shouldn't have to wonder how our senator will vote when pressure is on; Louisiana deserves a senator who will not waver

Letlow's central campaign message attacking Cassidy for inconsistency and lack of unwavering conservatism

Julia Letlow

Cassidy backed DEI initiatives and traded stocks like Nancy Pelosi

Attack ads comparing Cassidy to Democratic figures; Cassidy's campaign denied involvement in specific attack billboard

John Fleming

Cassidy has failed the people of Louisiana and supports elements of Biden's progressive agenda

Fleming cited Cassidy's votes on gun safety bill and infrastructure bill as evidence of alignment with Democratic priorities

John Fleming

Cassidy blocked effort to add conservative judge to federal court in Baton Rouge

Governor Jeff Landry made this claim; Cassidy responded that the district hasn't had a vacancy since he took office in 2015

Donald Trump (via Truth Social)

Cassidy is one of worst senators and a TOTAL FLAKE; is shunned in his own state as disloyal

Trump attack posts from April 2024 targeting Cassidy's impeachment vote and lack of loyalty

Endorsements

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Paul Gosar (U.S. Representative)individual
Scott Perry (U.S. Representative)individual
Marlin Stutzman (former U.S. Representative)individual
President Donald Trumpindividual
Governor Jeff Landryindividual
Eric Skrmettaindividual
Kathy Seidenindividual
National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC)organization
Senate Majority Leader John Thuneindividual