Jackson Lahmeyer, a Tulsa-area pastor dubbed a “MAGA warrior” after President Donald Trump’s endorsement, suspended his Oklahoma 1st Congressional District campaign following fallout from allegations tied to alleged text messages with a former Miss Oklahoma US
The night before Oklahoma’s Republican primary runoff, Jackson Lahmeyer made a decision that ended his campaign fast—and left the final days of the Oklahoma 1st Congressional District race scrambling.
Lahmeyer, a Tulsa-area pastor and former U.S. Senate candidate. announced he was suspending his bid after what he described as “prayerful consideration” with his wife. Kendra. and members of his campaign team. In his statement. he said he did not want to be “a distraction to my family. my church and the great people of Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District.”.
The timing carried heavy weight. His announcement landed in the shadow of a texting scandal that first surfaced publicly through the Daily Mail. which alleged inappropriate exchanges between Lahmeyer and former Miss Oklahoma USA Caitlin Simmons Key. The report spread quickly, drawing national attention and threatening to dominate the race in its closing stretch.
The pastor’s exit came as President Donald Trump stepped away from his endorsement. Trump withdrew his backing of Lahmeyer despite previously supporting him in May and describing him as a “MAGA warrior.”
In a statement, Trump said he appreciated Lahmeyer’s “hard work under difficult circumstances,” adding that “he has always been with me and I will always be with him.” The shift, however, complicated Lahmeyer’s own explanation for why he quit.
Lahmeyer told Newsweek that Trump’s decision did not influence his exit. “I made my decision to drop out of the race last night. I decided to choose my wife over my ambition,” he said. He continued: “I informed my wife about my decision late last night and then my campaign team early this morning. My decision did not take place because of the decision of POTUS this afternoon.”.
With Lahmeyer out, the race moves forward without one of its most high-profile names. Trump has since endorsed Oklahoma State Rep. Mark Tedford, leaving Tedford positioned to contend for the GOP nomination after Lahmeyer’s sudden suspension.
Lahmeyer also tried to fight back against the broader cheating allegations at the center of the controversy. In a Facebook post. he admitted he had “cross[ed] a boundary line through text messaging” with Caitlin Simmons Key and said he “also ended all communication.” He disputed the framing of the report. accusing the Daily Mail of misrepresenting the situation.
“The British tabloid tried to paint me out in a way which is not the case. At the same time, we must ask the question if this story was paid for and why our communications were carefully cherry-picked to create an impression that is not accurate,” Lahmeyer wrote.
Key, meanwhile, stood by her account. She told the Daily Mail that she and Lahmeyer kissed several times and that he sent her thousands of text messages. including messages she described as flirtatious. She alleged that “the conversations crossed the line of probably what most people would consider appropriate for a married man and a single woman. ” and said Lahmeyer’s wife discovered their messages and accused her of “ruining our family.”.
Key also spoke directly about the personal cost. “I’ve paid a price for that decision. My reputation, my privacy, my relationships and the people I love have all been impacted by it. Even so, I stand by it. The facts are public.”
What played out in Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District was a collision of two timelines: Lahmeyer’s description of a private choice made with his wife. and a public endorsement—then withdrawal—coming from Trump as the allegations saturated the final days of the race. In the space of hours. the controversy that began as text messages became a test of leadership. loyalty. and who gets to control the narrative when the campaign clock is already running.
Jackson Lahmeyer Trump-backed pastor MAGA warrior Oklahoma 1st Congressional District congressional race Kendra Lahmeyer Caitlin Simmons Key Miss Oklahoma USA texting scandal Daily Mail Mark Tedford Donald Trump endorsement Republican primary runoff
So he quit over texts?? Wild.
Daily Mail allegations and everybody panics. I don’t even know if those texts are real. But of course he’s “MAGA warrior” until it’s not lol.
This is like the most political cancelation ever. If Trump pulled the endorsement that’s the real story, not the pastor praying or whatever. Also “choose my wife over ambition” sounds like damage control to me.
Wait I thought pageants were innocent?? Like wasn’t this Miss Oklahoma USA thing totally separate? Now it’s texts, then Trump withdraws support, then he says it’s his prayerful consideration… sure. I’m just confused how one day he’s endorsed and next day he’s done, like the whole campaign got deleted.