Republican St. Tammany Parish Councilwoman Kathy Seiden is poised to be the first woman in the 2026 U.S. Senate race to challenge incumbent GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy, having commissioned Trump-affiliated pollster Adam Geller to test the waters.
Seiden confirmed that Geller’s National Research firm is polling the race for her.
“We’ve been encouraged by a lot of people to get into this race,” she said in a statement to USA Today Network. “It’s something we’re taking very seriously and we will be making an official announcement very soon.”
Seiden lives in Mandeville with her husband Daniel, a nuclear energy consultant, and their four children.
Seiden, who was raised in Port Allen and is an LSU graduate, said she was inspired to enter elective service by her family, community and Catholic faith.
She chairs the council’s Economic Development Committee and helps oversee the parish government’s $160 million budget.
Though Seiden could be the first woman to enter the April 2026 Republican primary race, Congresswoman Julia Letlow of Baton Rouge and state Rep. Julie Emerson of Lafayette are also considering the race.
Cassidy is considered vulnerable because of his vote to convict Donald Trump in the president’s 2021 impeachment trial, though the senator has supported Trump almost without exception in his second term.
Treasurer John Fleming, Acadiana state Sen. Blake Miguez and Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta have already entered the Republican primary race, all touting their Trump MAGA credentials.
Political outsiders Randall Arrington, a retired U.S. Navy aviator and college professor, and Sammy Wyatt, chief compliance and investigation officer for LSU Health-Shreveport have also announced campaigns.
More: Will Louisiana Congresswoman Julia Letlow enter the 2026 U.S. Senate race with Bill Cassidy?
Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: First woman to enter Louisiana Senate race, hires Trump-affiliated pollster