Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) has once again demonstrated his fundraising prowess in the upcoming Louisiana Senate race against multiple GOP primary challengers, raising $1.3 million from donors during the last quarter. This amount places him ahead in the race, maintaining his financial leverage over the competition.
Cassidy’s campaign committee now holds $9.5 million in the bank, showcasing a robust financial position. This leads to a narrow edge, outperforming at least one challenger, state Senate candidate Blake Miguez, who managed to secure $1.2 million in that same period and reported $2.5 million in campaign funds.
State Treasurer John Fleming is also in the race, reporting $2.2 million in fundraising, but much of this came from a personal loan of more than $2.1 million. Fleming, who had also loaned funds to his campaign in previous quarters, repaid $2 million to himself in July. This repayment means that the net contributions to his campaign from personal funds were just $125,000, while he received a bit shy of $100,000 from donors. Fleming’s campaign reported just over $2 million in cash on hand.
Despite the financial lead, Trump has not publicly endorsed any of the candidates in the race, which may be a significant factor in the results. The race is seen as a test for Republican voters on whether they are willing to support candidates, like Cassidy, who have sometimes deviated from the president’s policies. Cassidy’s decision to vote in favor of removing Trump from office during the 2021 impeachment trial is viewed as a key factor in the party’s support.