Cassidy prepares to face voters in Louisiana

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Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.

* In Louisiana, Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy will face voters on Saturday in a GOP primary against Rep. Julia Letlow, who enjoys Donald Trump’s backing and is expected to fare well against the incumbent. That said, there are others in the race, and if no candidate tops 50%, the top two vote-getters will advance to a June 27 runoff.

* Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. of New Jersey hasn’t made a public appearance in two months, and despite written assurances that he’ll “soon” return to work, there have been no disclosures about the illness that’s kept him away from Capitol Hill. Late last week, however, a member of the incumbent’s political operation told Politico, “Of course Congressman Kean is running for re-election.” Kean currently represents one of the nation’s most competitive congressional districts.

* In Nebraska, Democrats will vote Tuesday in this year’s weirdest Senate primary. Many Democratic officials and activists believe independent Dan Osborn stands the best chance against incumbent Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts, and with this in mind, Cindy Burbank, considered one of the top contenders in the Democratic primary, has said she plans to drop out if she wins this week. Burbank, however, is running against an anti-abortion pastor named William Forbes, a Trump voter who appears to be a GOP plant in the Democratic contest.