Cassidy says GOP’s brand ‘suffered terribly’, in response midterms’ outcome

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Republican Bill Cassidy is currently Louisiana’s senior U.S. senator. During an appearance on CNN Thursday evening, Cassidy did not hold back after his party lost control of the U.S. House and Senate in this week’s midterm elections.

“Our brand suffered terribly because again, I think it was perceived we were not serving the people,” Cassidy said.

Cassidy leaves office in January, when Rep. Julia Letlow will take over his seat after narrowly defeating Democrat Jamie Davis on Tuesday.

Cassidy sought reelection, but President Donald Trump urged Louisiana Republicans to vote for Letlow. Cassidy was eliminated in Louisiana’s Republican primary earlier this year.

“If you look at the shellacking our party took, it’s pretty clear that most voters don’t think that we were there to serve them,” Cassidy said. “They were paying more for everything. Life was inconvenient. They hear all these crazy things coming out of a state legislature and coming from Washington that they’re thinking this is not addressing my concerns.”

Derek Babcock, chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party, agrees the GOP’s brand has taken a hit.

“Yeah, I’ll agree the brand has been hurt, we’ve got a lot of work to do to try to connect with the American people. I think the policies are good. I think President Trump has done an excellent job but at the same time there’s a difference between communicating and connecting and there’s some work that we’ve got to do to connect with the people to make sure that they understand the policies coming out, why things are being done.”

Cassidy added, “If you’re not serving the American people, the American people, particularly when they’re stressed, are going to react to the ballot box. That’s what happened. ”

Dillard University political analyst Robert Collins, who previously worked in the U.S. Senate, has closely followed the midterm elections.

“There are going to have to be some discussions about you know where do we go from here because right now everybody agrees that the Republican Party brand has been damaged nationwide, I mean when you lose Texas,” said Collins.

Cassidy says Republicans must work to right the ship.

“And it’s the opportunity for Republicans to come up with real policy solutions, not messaging bills, not entertainment on YouTube, real policy solutions that address the needs of the American people,” said Cassidy. “That’s the challenge of our party that’s what we should be doing.”

Louisiana’s 5th and 6th Congressional District races will be decided in runoffs.

“We should win those races but we have to do everything we can to communicate the values of the Republican Party, it’s important that Louisiana sends a solid conservative to Washington D.C. and so we can’t take this for granted we’re going to win,” said Babcock.

As Democrats prepare to take control of the House and Senate in January, Cassidy has a message for them.

“If Democrats don’t do it successfully, in 2 years, the Democrats will have their day of reckoning. The American people should be served, and if they’re not served, they’re going to vote out the party in power,” he said.

Collins agrees.

“That’s true because, so, we look at the polling, the Democratic Party’s brand is also very poor right now. Charlie Cook famously said a few back that this is not a blue wave, this is a red undertone.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth could face an impeachment effort led by an outgoing House Republican before the current Congress adjourns.

“I’d have to hear the testimony. I don’t prejudge. I’ve been in this situation before. You hear what the testimony is and then you make a decision,” said Cassidy.

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