WASHINGTON — Sen. Bill Cassidy’s campaign apparatus hauled in $1.75 million in the third quarter of this year, bolstering its war chest as his 2026 re-election bid kicks into high gear.
The two-term incumbent’s campaign now has $10 million in cash on hand and has raised more than $15 million so far this cycle, according to Cassidy’s team.
“I’m deeply grateful for the support from Louisianians in every corner of our state,” Cassidy said in a statement Wednesday.
“I thank all those from across our state who see that my work for Louisiana and with President Trump is delivering results for individuals, families, and Louisiana.”
Louisiana hasn’t elected a Democratic senator since Mary Landrieu in 2008.
Democrats had lobbied former Gov. John Bel Edwards to toss his hat in the ring, only for the 59-year-old to announce Monday he would not run against Cassidy.
Cassidy, 68, will face a five-deep GOP primary field on April 18, 2026, led by former Congressman John Fleming, the current Pelican State treasurer.
So far, President Trump has refrained from making an endorsement, but the GOP senator has worked to court close relations with the commander-in-chief after Cassidy voted to convict Trump of incitement of insurrection following the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
On Sept. 30, Cassidy posted a birthday letter sent to him by Trump in which the president thanked the senator for his “continued friendship and enduring commitment to our cherished American values.”
Cassidy has also visited the White House at least eight times since Trump was sworn in as the 47th president Jan. 20.
As chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Cassidy is tasked with oversight of the Department of Health and Human Services, but has struggled navigating HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s reign over federal health policy.
Cassidy, a trained physician, has made clear that he is uneasy about some of Kennedy’s public statements and actions on vaccine policy.
Last month, Cassidy rejected the administration’s assessment that Tylenol use by pregnant women is linked to autism cases in children, telling reporters: “The preponderance of evidence shows that this is not the case.”
The points of disagreement between Cassidy and Kennedy have drawn attention from the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) wing of the Trump movement, which has rallied behind the secretary.
“Support from all 64 parishes confirms that Louisiana is united behind Senator Cassidy,” said Katie Larkin, Cassidy’s campaign manager, in a statement.
“He’s built an unmatched statewide network and has the resources, support, and momentum to win.
Louisianians know Senator Cassidy is delivering for them, and these numbers prove it.”
