GOP in 'crazy territory' as red state governor accused of election 'strong-arming': report

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry's attempt to play kingmaker in the state's Republican Senate primary, aggressively "strong-arming" donors and party insiders to support Donald Trump's preferred candidate, is backfiring and alienating fellow Republicans who view his interference as an abuse of power.

On Saturday, Louisiana Republicans head to the polls to test a fundamental question the national GOP is wrestling with: Can Trump's endorsement topple an entrenched incumbent who has dared to defy him — even in a state Trump won by 22 points?

According to Politico, Landry has publicly endorsed Rep. Julia Letlow and dispatched his chief of staff to advise her campaign. Behind the scenes, he has been pressuring major donors to financially support Letlow, according to six people familiar with his pressure campaign who are not happy being on the receiving end.

One prominent Louisiana businessperson, granted anonymity to speak freely, told Politico that Landry called dozens of executives in a conference call earlier this year and explicitly asked them to donate to Letlow and a Cassidy supporter promptly hung up.

Landry's aggressive efforts are sparking significant backlash from Louisiana Republicans, who see him as overstepping boundaries to prop up a candidate who is struggling to establish herself as the clear frontrunner. Letlow faces challenges including relatively low name ID and competition from another MAGA candidate: State Treasurer John Fleming.

Nearly a dozen GOP lawmakers, strategists, and party leaders said in interviews that they have long been frustrated by Landry's efforts to strong-arm the party over his legislative priorities — and view the Senate race as the latest demonstration of his authoritarian approach.

"We're in some crazy territory where there are yes men all around the governor, and they don't do anything he doesn't want them to do, and they do everything he wants them to do," complained Kelby Daigle, St. Martin GOP parish chair, who supports Cassidy.

"Governor Landry has gone all-in on Letlow and is pot committed at this point. It's a gamble that could pay off big or drain his political capital," a Louisiana Republican strategist granted anonymity told Politico.

Another GOP operative unaffiliated with any Senate campaign characterized Landry's behavior as an attempt to manipulate outcomes for Trump, stating, "All this is him thinking that he can rig certain outcomes as a toady for the President. The problem for Landry is people in Louisiana are fiercely independent. They don't want to be told what to do."