Trump withdraws – Jackson Lahmeyer, a Trump-backed candidate for Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District, suspended his congressional bid this week as an unfolding sexting scandal involving former Miss Oklahoma roiled the final stretch. President Donald Trump withdrew his endorse
The shock didn’t come from the scandal itself—it came from what happened next, and how quickly the political ground shifted.
On Wednesday. Jackson Lahmeyer—an Oklahoma pastor who had been backed by President Donald Trump and who was running for Congress in the state’s 1st Congressional District—announced he was pulling out of the race. His decision landed days after an article published Monday by The Daily Mail revealed a relationship between Lahmeyer and former Miss Oklahoma. including intimate text messages. Lahmeyer said the texts were “cherry-picked,” and that the matter had been handled privately between him and his wife.
Trump responded the same day he announced Lahmeyer’s exit. Trump pulled his endorsement of Lahmeyer and instead backed Lahmeyer’s GOP runoff challenger. Mark Tedford. writing on Truth Social: “I greatly appreciate Jackson Lahmeyer’s hard work under difficult circumstances — He has always been with me. and I will always be with him. ” before adding that he would be supporting “America First Patriot. Mark Tedford.” Trump’s message continued with praise for Tedford’s background as “a Highly Respected State Legislator and Businessman. ” and ended with a promise of support: “Mark has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Representative from Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”.
Before Trump’s post, Lahmeyer had already tried to control the damage.
After Trump’s announcement. Lahmeyer said the decision to suspend his campaign came after “prayerful consideration with my wife. Kendra. and my team over the last twenty four hours.” In a statement. he said he didn’t want to become a distraction to “my family. my church. and the great people of Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District. ” who he said “deserve a strong conservative voice representing them in Washington.”.
The timing was brutal. Lahmeyer and Tedford had advanced to a runoff after Tuesday night’s primary, separated by only 4,500 votes. Both men moved forward following an election that now looked less like a contest of platforms than a test of endurance under public scrutiny.
Monday’s Daily Mail report was what put that scrutiny into the center of the race. The outlet quoted Caitlin Simmons Key. described in the report as the former beauty queen and someone who also said she worked on Lahmeyer’s campaign. In the report. Key said she texted the candidate: “I enjoyed those lips.” The story also included other suggestive messages. including an invitation from Lahmeyer for Key to go to his hotel room. Lahmeyer later said the texts had been “cherry-picked” to create a misleading impression.
Ahead of Tuesday’s primary vote, Lahmeyer issued a statement responding to the Daily Mail article. He said: “Today. a distorted story from a British Tabloid was released just two days before my election.” He added that the issue had “already [been] dealt with privately between me and my wife. Kendra. through counsel and prayer with God and spiritual advisors.”.
He acknowledged his own conduct in the messages: “I own crossing a boundary line through text messaging. I also ended all communication.” He also said: “The British Tabloid tried to paint me out in a way which is not the case.”
Lahmeyer went further, arguing that the reporting may have been influenced by politics and selection. “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.”
He positioned his next focus on loyalty and stability, saying he was “beyond grateful to have Kendra’s support” and that he remained “fully committed to my family, church and Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District.”
In the same statement, Lahmeyer warned that opponents would try to turn the story into something larger than it was. “I have little doubt that those in the political establishment who oppose my America First Candidacy will attempt to make more of this than it is. My wife Kendra may have more to say on this subject in the coming days,” he wrote.
The sequence now sits in stark contrast: a candidate who moved through a primary runoff with only 4. 500 votes separating him from his rival suddenly steps away. and the president who had backed him switches support to Tedford. With Lahmeyer out. the race’s remaining question is no longer whether voters will hear the same message from the same podium—it’s how quickly a contest built on political branding can be rewritten by a single set of messages and a new endorsement delivered on the very day a campaign collapses.
Jackson Lahmeyer Mark Tedford Trump endorsement Oklahoma 1st Congressional District GOP runoff sexting scandal Miss Oklahoma Caitlin Simmons Key Truth Social America First Jackson Lahmeyer campaign
So Trump drops him like that??
I mean the guy’s saying the texts were cherry-picked, but who even knows. Trump probably just saw the headline and panicked, like always. Also Mark Tedford “America First” lol ok sure.
Wait I thought Lahmeyer was already out? The article wording is confusing like it says suspended his bid and then withdraw his endorsement. But Trump literally posted right after, so maybe the pastor got caught and then they swapped candidates. Doesn’t feel very “handled privately” if everybody’s reading it.
This is why I don’t trust any of them. First it’s Miss Oklahoma, then it’s sexting, then suddenly Trump’s like “complete and total endorsement” for someone else. Like politics is just a highlight reel. Also the Daily Mail part… half the time they’re exaggerating, but everybody still runs with it. I’m not saying it’s fake, I’m just saying it’s always messy like this.