Sen. Bill Cassidy in the crosshairs over RFK Jr. nomination

• As incoming chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee, Cassidy will scrutinize Kennedy's record.
• And with his seat on the Senate Finance Committee, Cassidy will take one of the first votes on Kennedy's nomination to run the Department of Health and Human Services.

Zoom in: A serious primary challenger is lurking for Cassidy, who voted to convict Trump on impeachment charges in 2021.

• Conservative Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) is seen as a potential Cassidy threat.
• That leaves Cassidy balancing what's good for his reelection against his health care expertise, including what Kennedy would do if there is another pandemic, a top former staffer told Axios.

"He's a very independent-minded guy," retiring Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) told Axios about Cassidy. Romney has served with Cassidy on the HELP committee.

• When asked if he thought the 2026 race would impact how Cassidy approaches Kennedy, Romney said, "I don't think in his case, no."

Between the lines: Cassidy says he's willing to work to get Trump's nominees approved.

"Sen. Cassidy has made it clear that he is excited to work with President Trump. Hopefully, he can be an asset to the Trump administration given his ability to get legislative solutions across the finish line," a spokesperson for the lawmaker said.

• Cassidy told Axios this week he had yet to meet with the major health nominees but has meetings scheduled in the next week or two.

Between the lines: It's not just RFK Jr.'s beliefs about health issues like vaccines and water treatment. His support for abortion rights could also spell trouble with some Republicans.

• Those problems are heading right for Cassidy's desk, with Trump watching carefully.