Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana has been defeated in the Republican primary — a result that sent shockwaves through Washington and prompted former Senator Mitt Romney to call the outcome "a loss for the country."
Cassidy was one of seven Republican senators who voted to convict Donald Trump at his second impeachment trial in 2021. Since then, he has faced a relentless campaign from Trump allies, including a formal censure vote and the endorsement of a primary challenger backed by Trump's full political operation.
"Bill Cassidy is a serious, principled legislator who put his country above his party," Romney said. "His defeat is a loss for the country and a warning to every Republican that loyalty tests now override legislative accomplishment."
Cassidy's departure creates an opening in a state Republicans will hold — but the likely replacement is a far more pliable Trump loyalist with little policy expertise. Critics note the Senate is increasingly losing members with deep subject-matter knowledge, replaced by politicians whose primary qualification is fealty to a single figure.
