Latest news with #Miguez
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Louisiana state lawmaker challenging Cassidy in GOP primary
Louisiana state Sen. Blake Miguez (R) has launched a primary bid challenging Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) ahead of 2026, adding to a growing field of Republicans vying to unseat the two-term senator. Miguez in his launch video on Tuesday declared Cassidy 'sucks' and prominently features footage of the GOP senator saying he voted to convict President Trump in 2021. The state lawmaker casts himself as a more conservative alternative. 'Do you want a senator you know will have Trump's back? A straight shooter who doesn't flinch when it's time to fight?' Miguez says in the ad, picking up a rifle. 'I'm you're guy. We're done being fooled by weak Republicans.' 'Bill Cassidy had his shot. He missed. I won't,' Miguez adds, firing his gun, which sets off an explosion in the ad. Cassidy's campaign shrugged off Miguez's announcement, saying it wouldn't impact the result of the race. 'Anyone can join this race, but it won't change the outcome — Senator Cassidy will win,' said Cassidy campaign spokeswoman Ashley Bosch in a statement. 'He's a proven conservative fighting alongside President Trump to secure our southern border, unleash American energy, and put America First. Senator Cassidy is fighting to protect our values and delivering real results for Louisiana.' A handful of Republicans are looking to beat Cassidy in next year's elections; among the names running, Treasurer John Fleming and Miguez are among the most notable. Both Fleming and Miguez have positioned themselves as the Trump-aligned, hardline conservative candidate and both are hammering the Louisiana senator for his vote to convict Trump following the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack — a vulnerability for the senator in his red state. The president was ultimately acquitted in the Senate. Cassidy, meanwhile, has sought to align himself with Trump, including helping get some of the president's more controversial nominees, like Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., confirmed. He's also aligned himself with Trump's priorities, suggesting, for example, that he's in favor of shutting down the Education Department. Cassidy is also contending with a different primary system this time around, where he'll have to compete in a Republican primary first before the general election; previously Senate elections used an open primary system where all candidates running for an office ran under one ballot. If no one candidate outright received a majority of the vote, the top two vote-getters would head to a run-off. Louisiana still holds some of its elections using the 'jungle' primary system while other offices, including Senate, go through a closed primary process. Multiple hardline candidates, however, could benefit Cassidy, splitting the vote among more conservative voters and offering Cassidy a potentially easier path to winning the GOP primary. Updated: 10:01 a.m. ET Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
5 days ago
- Politics
Conservative Louisiana state Sen. Blake Miguez announces bid to run for US Sen. Bill Cassidy's seat
BATON ROUGE, La. -- Louisiana state Sen. Blake Miguez officially launched his bid on Tuesday to unseat fellow Republican U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy in 2026. Miguez is the latest GOP challenger to Cassidy, who has been chastised by his party for being one of seven GOP senators who voted to convict President Donald Trump during his 2021 impeachment trial. 'Phony politicians like Bill Cassidy can't shoot straight," Miguez, 43, says in a video on social media to announce his campaign. In the video, Miguez, a champion competitive sharpshooter, shows off his skills — using various firearms and, literally, aiming at targets brandishing words like 'Marxism,' 'food dyes' and 'crime.' Miguez served in the state House for more than eight years and was elected to the Senate in 2023. A staunch advocate for the Second Amendment, Miguez has sponsored gun-related bills, including a measure that allows residents, 18 and older, to carry concealed handguns without a permit. Over the past year, he has also authored legislation that aids in federal crackdowns of immigration enforcement. In the Statehouse, Miguez has demonstrated a confrontational approach during bill debates — a tactic that was apparent in his campaign announcement. 'I'm running because the American Dream is worth fighting for -- and DC phonies forget that. Bill Cassidy betrayed our state, our President, and our principles,' Miguez posted on X. Cassidy, who is in his second term, is up for reelection in reliably red Louisiana, where residents overwhelmingly supported Trump in the past three presidential elections. While Cassidy, 67, won his last reelection handily, he has not been on the ballot since his controversial vote to convict Trump over the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Cassidy's vote resulted in the lawmaker being trashed on social media and censured by Louisiana Republicans. Recent actions by Cassidy suggest he's working to mend ties with Trump loyalists. He has emphasized his commitment to work with the president to advance his agenda and showed support for many of Trump's cabinet appointments. Most notably, in February Cassidy joined Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Cassidy currently has a significant fundraising advantage, with more than $7.4 million in his campaign account at the end of the first quarter. But in the eyes of some, Cassidy's past actions make him vulnerable. In addition to Miguez, Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming, who served in Trump's first administration, has announced that he will run for the Senate seat. The 73-year-old has also lambasted Cassidy. Republican U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow is also rumored to be considering running against Cassidy. A big change in the upcoming election is Louisiana's new closed primaries. Until the new system was adopted this year, congressional candidates from all parties seeking the same office ran on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation. In the state's unique 'jungle primary," voters could choose any candidate, even if they do not align with the voters' registered party. If a candidate earned more than 50% of the total vote then they would win the office outright. If no one reached the threshold, the top two finishers would face each other in a runoff. Under the new primary system, only voters who are registered Republicans will be able to participate in the GOP Senate primary. The effect is seen as a potential challenge for Cassidy, who had benefited from the less-partisan nature of the old system. The election will take place November 3, 2026.
The Hill
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Louisiana state lawmaker challenging Cassidy in GOP primary
Louisiana state Sen. Blake Miguez (R) has launched a primary bid challenging Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) ahead of 2026, adding to a growing field of Republicans vying to unseat the two-term senator. Miguez in his launch video on Tuesday declares Cassidy 'sucks' and prominently features footage of the GOP senator saying he voted to convict President Trump in 2021. The state lawmaker casts himself as a more conservative alternative. 'Do you want a senator you know will have Trump's back? A straight shooter who doesn't flinch when it's time to fight?' Miguez says in the ad, picking up a rifle. 'I'm you're guy. We're done being fooled by weak Republicans.' 'Bill Cassidy had his shot. He missed. I won't,' Miguez adds, firing his gun, which sets off an explosion in the ad. A handful of Republicans are looking to beat Cassidy in next year's elections; among the names running, Treasurer John Fleming and Miguez are among the most notable. Both Fleming and Miguez have positioned themselves as the Trump-aligned, hardline conservative candidate and both are hammering the Louisiana senator for his vote to convict Trump following the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack — a vulnerability for the senator in his red state. The president was ultimately acquitted in the Senate. Cassidy, meanwhile, has sought to align himself with Trump, including helping get some of the president's more controversial nominees, like Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., confirmed. He's also aligned himself with Trump's priorities, suggesting, for example, that he's in favor of shutting down the Education Department. Cassidy is also contending with a different primary system this time around, where he'll have to compete in a Republican primary first before the general election; previously Senate elections used an open primary system where all candidates running for an office ran under one ballot. If no one candidate outright received a majority of the vote, the top two vote-getters would head to a run-off. Louisiana still holds some of its elections using the 'jungle' primary system while other offices, including Senate, go through a closed primary process. Multiple hardline candidates, however, could benefit Cassidy, splitting the vote among more conservative voters and offering Cassidy a potentially easier path to winning the GOP primary.
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Conservative Louisiana state Sen. Blake Miguez announces bid to run for US Sen. Bill Cassidy's seat
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana state Sen. Blake Miguez officially launched his bid on Tuesday to unseat fellow Republican U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy in 2026. Miguez is the latest GOP challenger to Cassidy, who has been chastised by his party for being one of seven GOP senators who voted to convict President Donald Trump during his 2021 impeachment trial . 'Phony politicians like Bill Cassidy can't shoot straight,' Miguez, 43, says in a video on social media to announce his campaign. In the video, Miguez, a champion competitive sharpshooter, shows off his skills — using various firearms and, literally, aiming at targets brandishing words like 'Marxism,' 'food dyes' and 'crime.' Miguez served in the state House for more than eight years and was elected to the Senate in 2023. A staunch advocate for the Second Amendment, Miguez has sponsored gun-related bills, including a measure that allows residents, 18 and older, to carry concealed handguns without a permit. Over the past year, he has also authored legislation that aids in federal crackdowns of immigration enforcement . In the Statehouse, Miguez has demonstrated a confrontational approach during bill debates — a tactic that was apparent in his campaign announcement. 'I'm running because the American Dream is worth fighting for — and DC phonies forget that. Bill Cassidy betrayed our state, our President, and our principles,' Miguez posted on X. Cassidy, who is in his second term, is up for reelection in reliably red Louisiana, where residents overwhelmingly supported Trump in the past three presidential elections. While Cassidy, 67, won his last reelection handily, he has not been on the ballot since his controversial vote to convict Trump over the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Cassidy's vote resulted in the lawmaker being trashed on social media and censured by Louisiana Republicans. Recent actions by Cassidy suggest he's working to mend ties with Trump loyalists. He has emphasized his commitment to work with the president to advance his agenda and showed support for many of Trump's cabinet appointments. Most notably, in February Cassidy joined Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Cassidy currently has a significant fundraising advantage, with more than $7.4 million in his campaign account at the end of the first quarter. But in the eyes of some, Cassidy's past actions make him vulnerable. In addition to Miguez, Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming , who served in Trump's first administration, has announced that he will run for the Senate seat. The 73-year-old has also lambasted Cassidy. Republican U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow is also rumored to be considering running against Cassidy. A big change in the upcoming election is Louisiana's new closed primaries. Until the new system was adopted this year, congressional candidates from all parties seeking the same office ran on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation. In the state's unique 'jungle primary,' voters could choose any candidate, even if they do not align with the voters' registered party. If a candidate earned more than 50% of the total vote then they would win the office outright. If no one reached the threshold, the top two finishers would face each other in a runoff. Under the new primary system, only voters who are registered Republicans will be able to participate in the GOP Senate primary. The effect is seen as a potential challenge for Cassidy, who had benefited from the less-partisan nature of the old system. The election will take place November 3, 2026. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Toronto Star
5 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Conservative Louisiana state Sen. Blake Miguez announces bid to run for US Sen. Bill Cassidy's seat
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana state Sen. Blake Miguez officially launched his bid on Tuesday to unseat fellow Republican U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy in 2026. Miguez is the latest GOP challenger to Cassidy, who has been chastised by his party for being one of seven GOP senators who voted to convict President Donald Trump during his 2021 impeachment trial. 'Phony politicians like Bill Cassidy can't shoot straight,' Miguez, 43, says in a video on social media to announce his campaign. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW In the video, Miguez, a champion competitive sharpshooter, shows off his skills — using various firearms and, literally, aiming at targets brandishing words like 'Marxism,' 'food dyes' and 'crime.' Miguez served in the state House for more than eight years and was elected to the Senate in 2023. A staunch advocate for the Second Amendment, Miguez has sponsored gun-related bills, including a measure that allows residents, 18 and older, to carry concealed handguns without a permit. Over the past year, he has also authored legislation that aids in federal crackdowns of immigration enforcement. In the Statehouse, Miguez has demonstrated a confrontational approach during bill debates — a tactic that was apparent in his campaign announcement. 'I'm running because the American Dream is worth fighting for — and DC phonies forget that. Bill Cassidy betrayed our state, our President, and our principles,' Miguez posted on X. Cassidy, who is in his second term, is up for reelection in reliably red Louisiana, where residents overwhelmingly supported Trump in the past three presidential elections. While Cassidy, 67, won his last reelection handily, he has not been on the ballot since his controversial vote to convict Trump over the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Cassidy's vote resulted in the lawmaker being trashed on social media and censured by Louisiana Republicans. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Recent actions by Cassidy suggest he's working to mend ties with Trump loyalists. He has emphasized his commitment to work with the president to advance his agenda and showed support for many of Trump's cabinet appointments. Most notably, in February Cassidy joined Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Cassidy currently has a significant fundraising advantage, with more than $7.4 million in his campaign account at the end of the first quarter. But in the eyes of some, Cassidy's past actions make him vulnerable. In addition to Miguez, Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming, who served in Trump's first administration, has announced that he will run for the Senate seat. The 73-year-old has also lambasted Cassidy. Republican U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow is also rumored to be considering running against Cassidy. A big change in the upcoming election is Louisiana's new closed primaries. Until the new system was adopted this year, congressional candidates from all parties seeking the same office ran on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation. In the state's unique 'jungle primary,' voters could choose any candidate, even if they do not align with the voters' registered party. If a candidate earned more than 50% of the total vote then they would win the office outright. If no one reached the threshold, the top two finishers would face each other in a runoff. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Under the new primary system, only voters who are registered Republicans will be able to participate in the GOP Senate primary. The effect is seen as a potential challenge for Cassidy, who had benefited from the less-partisan nature of the old system. The election will take place November 3, 2026. Read more on the U.S. Election at
