BATON ROUGE, LA – Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming has officially announced his intention to challenge Senator Bill Cassidy in the 2026 U.S. Senate race. Fleming shared the news during an exclusive interview with WDSU in New Orleans..
A seasoned leader with a diverse background, Fleming is a military veteran, former naval officer, and family physician. He represented Louisiana’s 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2009 to 2017 and served as a Senior Advisor to President Donald Trump before being elected Louisiana State Treasurer in 2023.
“Louisiana deserves a true conservative voice in the United States Senate,” Fleming said in his announcement. “As someone who stands with President Trump and understands the challenges and opportunities facing our people, I am ready to deliver the conservative leadership Louisiana needs to thrive and prosper.”
Fleming highlighted his commitment to addressing the national debt and aggressively controlling federal spending as key components of his platform.
In response to Fleming’s announcement, Senator Cassidy’s office issued a sharp statement, questioning Fleming’s dedication to his current role.
“I thought he wanted to be State Treasurer? John Fleming wants to get out of Louisiana. He publicly said he wanted a job in the Trump administration, and apparently, they didn’t want him. So after less than a year as State Treasurer, he’s looking for another job to return to Washington. Again, I thought he wanted to be State Treasurer, but apparently not,” Cassidy’s statement read.
The 2026 Senate race is expected to draw national attention, with Fleming positioning himself as a staunch conservative alternative to Cassidy, who has faced criticism from some in his party.
Credit: Original reporting by WDSU.