Why is Jeff Landry Getting Involved in the 2026 Senate Race?

Louisiana's governor is allegedly pushing Trump toward a candidate who hasn't even said anything about running.

Governor Jeff Landry hasn’t exactly been killing it in Baton Rouge. From his disastrous handling of the insurance reform debate to alienating the conservative base that put him in office, Landry’s political instincts have been abysmal. And now, instead of focusing on fixing his own problems in Louisiana, he’s diving into the 2026 U.S. Senate race to challenge Senator Bill Cassidy.

According to the Associated Press, Landry has been in talks with President Trump, pushing for Congresswoman Julia Letlow to challenge Cassidy in the Republican primary. On the surface, it might look like a power play to align himself with Trump and solidify his influence. But the reality is that Landry has no business getting involved in a federal race when he’s struggling to manage his own state.

Why Is Landry Pushing Letlow?

Let’s be clear: Bill Cassidy absolutely deserves a primary challenge. After voting to convict Trump in the 2021 impeachment trial and supporting a lot of the Biden administration’s legislative efforts (a bad infrastructure bill and an awful piece of immigration legislation), Cassidy has made himself a target for conservatives. But John Fleming, the current state treasurer and former congressman, has already thrown his hat in the ring, and other conservatives are eyeing jumping into the race as well.

So why is Landry pushing for Letlow to jump into the race? According to the Associated Press, Landry has had private conversations with Trump about Letlow’s potential run. Other people I’ve spoken to have suggested Landry has no love for John Fleming and even less love for guys like state senator Blake Miguez, who is allegedly debating jumping in.

Letlow is currently a three-term representative and a rising star in Congress. She sits on the influential House Appropriations Committee and is part of the House Steering Committee alongside Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise.

If Letlow runs for Senate and vacates her House seat, Landry could try to install one of his allies in that seat—a move that does more to expand his personal influence than to serve Louisiana’s interest. In fact, it would come at the expense of Louisiana’s interest.

A Risky Play for Jeff Landry and Louisiana

Landry is playing a dangerous game here. Letlow’s House seat is critical for Louisiana. With Johnson, Scalise, and Letlow all holding key positions on the Steering Committee, the state has significant leverage in the House. If Letlow vacates that seat for a Senate run, Landry risks disrupting a strong power structure that benefits the state.

Furthermore, it’s not as though Landry has a stable base of support right now. His aggressive push for insurance rate-setting by government fiat—a position that runs counter to conservative, free-market principles—has alienated many of the same conservative voters who propelled him to victory. If Letlow runs and loses, or if Landry’s political maneuvering backfires, it could weaken his already shaky standing among Republicans in Louisiana.

Landry Has His Own Problems at Home

Landry’s power grab reeks of desperation. Rather than shoring up his base and focusing on fixing the problems that are bleeding conservatives dry in Louisiana, he’s trying to play kingmaker in a Senate race. He’s got his eyes on a bigger political prize, but he can’t even manage his own backyard.

Governor Landry needs to sit down, regroup, and focus on the job he was elected to do. He has yet to show he can handle the responsibilities of running a state. Getting involved in the U.S. Senate race only distracts from the real work he needs to be doing in Baton Rouge—and Louisiana voters are taking notice.