Former Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) on Sunday described Sen. Bill Cassidy’s (R-La.) defeat in the Louisiana Republican primary on Saturday as a “loss for the country.”
Cassidy lost the race in Louisiana’s newly closed primary system following years of disagreement with President Trump after Cassidy voted to convict him for the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
“The Senate to now lose an exceptionally brilliant and creative mind, an MD who chairs healthcare, and a person of character,” Romney said on the social platform X, referring to Cassidy’s degree as a medical doctor. “Bill Cassidy’s departure is a loss for the country.”
Trump-endorsed Rep. Julia Letlow (R-La.) and Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming (R) were the top vote-getters Saturday, edging out Cassidy in his toughest race since first winning in 2014. Neither Fleming nor Letlow scored at least half the vote to avoid a June 27 runoff.
“When you participate in democracy, sometimes it doesn’t turn out the way you want it to, but you don’t pout, you don’t whine, you don’t claim the election was stolen, you don’t find a reason why you lost,” Cassidy said late Saturday to supporters.