President Donald Trump preemptively endorsed Rep. Julia Letlow to run in Louisiana for Senate against incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy, even after Senate Majority Leader John Thune had urged Trump to back Cassidy.
Trump called Thune on Friday and told him he was leaning towards endorsing Letlow, who has not yet announced a run, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Thune tried to convince Trump to support Cassidy, emphasizing that Republicans can’t afford to lose another vote — whether on a future reconciliation bill, a replacement for a Federal Reserve chair, a potential vote on a health care bill and much more. Thune also pointed out that Cassidy has been loyal to Trump this Congress.