President Donald Trump on Wednesday withdrew his endorsement of Oklahoma congressional candidate Jackson Lahmeyer, a dramatic reversal that came just minutes before the Tulsa pastor suspended his campaign amid a texting controversy that reshaped the Republican primary race.
The developments leave Oklahoma state Rep. Mark Tedford as the overwhelming favorite to secure the Republican nomination in the state's heavily Republican 1st Congressional District.
Lahmeyer's campaign unraveled after a Daily Mail report published shortly before the primary election detailed text message exchanges between the candidate and Caitlin Key, a former Miss Oklahoma USA who worked as a fundraiser for his campaign. The messages included personal conversations in which Lahmeyer allegedly referred to Key as “cute,” invited her to his hotel room and discussed late-night outings while traveling.
Lahmeyer acknowledged sending the messages but disputed how they were portrayed. In a Facebook post, he said he had crossed “a boundary line through text messaging” while maintaining that selected messages had been presented in a misleading way. He also stated that the issue had already been addressed privately with his wife and that his communication with Key had ended.
The controversy emerged at a critical moment in the race. Lahmeyer and Tedford had advanced from Tuesday's Republican primary and were set to face off in an Aug. 25 runoff election.
Just weeks earlier, Trump had enthusiastically backed Lahmeyer, describing him as a “MAGA Warrior” and highlighting his work in support of the president and the broader MAGA movement. Lahmeyer, who founded the Pastors for Trump coalition, became a prominent figure among evangelical supporters during Trump's 2024 campaign.
However, Trump reversed course Wednesday. In a Truth Social post, the president thanked Lahmeyer for his efforts but announced that he was instead endorsing Tedford, giving the state lawmaker his “Complete and Total Endorsement.”
Later that day, Lahmeyer officially exited the race.
In a statement announcing his withdrawal, Lahmeyer said he did not want to become a distraction to his family, church or voters in the district. He later told The Hill that he had decided to end his campaign before Trump publicly rescinded his endorsement.
“My decision did not take place because of the decision of POTUS this afternoon,” Lahmeyer said, adding that he chose “my wife over my ambition.”
Lahmeyer's departure effectively clears the path for Tedford in a district Republicans are strongly favored to retain. Tedford is seeking to succeed Rep. Kevin Hern, who is running for the Senate seat opened after Markwayne Mullin left the House to join Trump's Cabinet as homeland security secretary.
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