Bill Cassidy

William Morgan Cassidy is a Republican U.S. Senator from Louisiana, first elected to the Senate in 2014. Born in Highland Park, Illinois, and raised in Baton Rouge, Cassidy earned his Bachelor of Science and Medical Degree from Louisiana State University. Before his political career, he was a practicing gastroenterologist and an associate professor at the LSU School of Medicine, where he co-founded the Greater Baton Rouge Community Clinic to provide free medical and dental care to the working uninsured. Cassidy first entered public office in 2006 with his election to the Louisiana State Senate, followed by his election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2008 representing Louisiana's 6th district. In 2014, he moved to the U.S. Senate after defeating incumbent Mary Landrieu. Throughout his Senate tenure, he has been a prominent member of several committees, eventually serving as the Ranking Member and later Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. His legislative work has often focused on healthcare and energy, including co-authoring the Graham-Cassidy bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act and playing a leading role in the 2021 bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. In 2021, Cassidy was one of seven Republican senators who voted to convict former President Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial. In the May 2026 Republican primary, Cassidy finished third and did not advance to the general election, with his current term set to conclude in January 2027.

Senator Cassidy's policy positions are centered on healthcare reform, energy production, and fiscal responsibility. As a physician, he advocates for a state-led approach to healthcare that replaces the Affordable Care Act with block grants, while also focusing on lowering prescription drug prices and expanding mental health resources. On energy, he promotes an "all-of-the-above" strategy that supports Louisiana's traditional oil and gas sectors alongside investments in carbon sequestration and coastal restoration to mitigate flood risks. Cassidy's economic platform emphasizes reducing the national deficit and supporting tax structures that encourage domestic investment, such as the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Regarding immigration, he supports enhanced border security and opposes policies he describes as "magnets" for illegal immigration, such as providing federal Medicaid funding for undocumented individuals. In foreign policy, he generally supports a robust national defense and maintains strong support for allies such as Israel.