Jackson Lahmeyer, a pastor who built a “Pastors for Trump” platform and advanced in Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District Republican primary, suspended his campaign on June 17 after a texting controversy surfaced. Hours before he stepped aside, President Donal
For one day, Jackson Lahmeyer looked set to turn his church-led political push into a bid for Congress. Then, a texting scandal overtook the race—fast enough that Lahmeyer quit the contest the very next day.
Lahmeyer, a Republican candidate for Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District, advanced to the Republican primary runoff on Tuesday, June 16. On Wednesday. June 17. he dropped out. citing a need to avoid becoming a distraction to his family and church as controversy swirled around alleged text messages.
“After prayerful consideration with my wife. Kendra. and my team over the last twenty four hours. I’ve made the difficult decision to suspend my campaign for Congress. ” Lahmeyer said in his since-deleted X account. “I do not want to be a distraction to my family. my church. and the great people of Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District. who deserve a strong conservative voice representing them in Washington.”.
His announcement landed as President Donald Trump was reshuffling support. Lahmeyer had received an endorsement from Trump in May, and Trump reiterated that backing on Monday, June 16, ahead of Tuesday’s primary.
“It is my Great Honor to endorse MAGA Warrior, Jackson Lahmeyer, who is running to represent the fantastic people of Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District, and has been with me from the very beginning of our Movement to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!,” Trump said.
But hours before Lahmeyer dropped out, Trump pulled his endorsement for the congressional race. Instead, Trump said he would back Mark Tedford, the top vote-getter in Tuesday’s Republican primary.
“I greatly appreciate Jackson Lahmeyer’s hard work under difficult circumstances — He has always been with me. and I will always be with him. But. when it comes to the current Congressional race for Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District. I will be supporting America First Patriot. Mark Tedford. ” Trump said on Truth Social.
The controversy that framed Lahmeyer’s exit centered on allegations tied to texting threads published by the Daily Mail. The outlet reported alleged exchanges between Lahmeyer and Caitlin Key, Miss Oklahoma USA 2007.
The Daily Mail said Key worked as a fundraiser for Lahmeyer’s congressional campaign. Key told the outlet that she met Lahmeyer in 2022 while he was in the midst of an ultimately unsuccessful challenge of incumbent U.S. Sen. James Lankford.
According to the report, the preacher and Key exchanged a series of text messages in the spring of 2026 that Lahmeyer’s wife eventually read.
In one message, Lahmeyer called Key “very cute.” Key responded with, “The question is, why are you texting me when you are at a fancy party at Maralago?” Lahmeyer replied: “I like texting you lol.”
After the story was published, Lahmeyer said he had crossed “a boundary through text messaging.” In a post on X, he wrote: “I own crossing a boundary line through text messaging. I also ended all communication. The British Tabloid tried to paint me out in a way which is not the case.”
The sequence left little room for political insulation. Lahmeyer advanced on June 16, Trump had echoed support that same day, and then the endorsement was withdrawn in favor of Tedford before Lahmeyer suspended his campaign on June 17.
As Oklahoma’s Republican primary moves forward, the question now shifts to who will consolidate the anti-Trump-leaning base that had looked toward Lahmeyer—especially as Trump’s backing has moved behind Mark Tedford.
Jackson Lahmeyer Pastors for Trump texting scandal Oklahoma 1st Congressional District Mark Tedford Donald Trump endorsement Caitlin Key James Lankford