Who Is Bill Cassidy's Wife? New Details On Laura Layden Cassidy

Since 2015, Bill Cassidy has served as a U.S. Senator from Louisiana, previously serving as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives as well as the Louisiana State Senate. His defeat of his opponent, Mary Landrieu, made him the first Republican to hold that seat since the Reconstruction era. But before starting a career in politics, Cassidy worked as a doctor, specializing in the treatment of live disease.

Unlike his Republican colleagues, Cassidy is a supporter of affordable health care, and even helped found the Greater Baton Rouge Community Clinic, which provides free health care to uninsured residents. He has said that any legislation he’d support would have to meet the “Jimmy Kimmel test” and answer the question: “Would a child born with congenital heart disease be able to get everything he or she would need in that first year of life?”

Though he has stated his support for affordable health care, a bill that he and Lindsey Graham introduced would eliminate the ACA’s marketplace subsidies and repeal its Medicaid expansion, not passing the “Jimmy Kimmel test” in the least.

But aside from health care, he sides with his colleagues when it comes to gun control, opposing it and claiming it wouldn’t stop mass shootings or decrease crime. The NRA endorsed him during his 2014 Senate run.

But what about his personal life? Does his family agree with his viewpoints about health care and gun control? Specifically, who is Bill Cassidy’s wife? Here are 7 things to know about Laura Layden Cassidy, their relationship, and their life together.

1. She’s a retired surgeon.

Laura was a breast cancer surgeon until she retired in 2006. She helped expand the use of a lumpectomy and was the first surgeon in Baton Rouge to practice sentinel lymph node biopsies. During her career, she traveled abroad to Africa to work as a surgeon in hospitals and helped to raise awareness of breast cancer by hosting charitable events and providing education for early detection.

2. They met during her residency.

In the 1990s, Laura and her future husband both worked at the Earl K. Long Medical Center during their residencies. She was the head of surgery for the hospital, while Bill was a gastroenterologist.

3. They have three children.

The couple are parents to three children: Kate, Meg, and Will. They welcomed their first grandchild in 2014.

4. She’s been a huge influence to him.

During his career, Bill says that his wife has always been supportive. “She knows exactly how I think. I think I know what she brings to the table. We are partners. I would not have run for Senate if it had not been a mutual decision,” he said.

5. She founded a charter school for dyslexic children.

The school, Louisiana Key Academy, offers tuition-free education to children suffering from dyslexia, a disorder one of her own children has.

6. She’s also an author.

With a focus on healthcare and breast cancer, Laura has written guest columns for a few publications. She wrote a piece in 2013 about Angelina Jolie and how thankful she was that Jolie expressed how the disease affected her life.

“I am thankful that Angelina's story is public, and as I have told those women who have subsequently asked my opinion: In medicine, knowledge is powerful. If you have a family history of cancer, don't live in fear. Talk to your doctor and gain the knowledge available and suitable for your medical history. This will allow you to make an informed decision,” she said in the article.

7. They are Christian.

The family are members of The Chapel on the Campus, a nondenominational Christian Church they attend regularly in Baton Rouge.

Samantha Maffucci is an associate editor for YourTango who focuses on writing trending news and entertainment pieces. In her free time, you can find her obsessing about cats, wine, and all things Vanderpump Rules.