2026 United States Senate election in Louisiana

The 2026 United States Senate election in Louisiana will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Louisiana. Incumbent Republican senator Bill Cassidy, who was re-elected in 2020, is running for re-election to a third term. Cassidy's vocal opposition to former president Donald Trump has led to speculation that Republicans will field a primary challenge against him.

Following the enactment of House Bill 17 in 2024, this will be the first U.S. Senate election in Louisiana to utilize closed partisan primaries instead of a single blanket primary since 1974.

Change of electoral system
In January 2024, governor Jeff Landry signed House Bill 17, sponsored by representative Julie Emerson, which eliminated the top-two Louisiana primary system in favor of closed partisan primaries in elections for Congress, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Public Service Commission, and the Supreme Court. The bill also indicated the use of runoff elections if no candidate receives a majority in their respective primary. The law is to take effect beginning with the 2026 elections, making this election the first in which Louisiana will elect a U.S. senator using this system since 1974; the top-two primary was first implemented in congressional elections in 1978.

Potential challenge to Cassidy
Senator Bill Cassidy, who has held this seat since 2015, has gained significant notoriety within the Republican Party for being a vocal critic of former president Donald Trump. He denounced the storming of the U.S. Capitol and accused the participants of sedition, while voting to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election, which Trump and his supporters have attempted to overturn. Cassidy was one of seven Senate Republicans to later vote to convict Trump of incitement of insurrection during his second impeachment trial, for which the Republican Party of Louisiana publicly censured him. Additionally, during Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, Cassidy made numerous public statements denouncing his candidacy and calling for his withdrawal, particularly in reference to Trump's four criminal indictments.

Cassidy's outspoken opposition to Trump and his policies has led political analysts to believe him vulnerable to a primary challenge from the right wing of the party. Early speculation of potential candidates included Clay Higgins, a Congressman and law enforcement officer who has gained popularity among Republicans for his far-right positions and support of Trump.

Declared

 * Bill Cassidy, incumbent U.S. senator

Potential

 * John Fleming, Louisiana State Treasurer and former U.S. Representative from LA's 4th congressional district
 * Garret Graves, U.S. Representative from LA's 6th congressional district
 * Clay Higgins, U.S. Representative from LA's 3rd congressional district

Potential

 * John Bel Edwards, former governor of Louisiana