Jackson Lahmeyer Exits Congressional Race Following Texting Controversy
Jackson Lahmeyer, founder of Pastors for Trump, has suspended his campaign for Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District amid a texting scandal, just a day after being projected to advance to a runoff for the Republican nomination.
Jackson Lahmeyer, the founder of Pastors for Trump, announced on Wednesday that he is withdrawing from the race for Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District. This decision comes a day after he was projected to move forward to a runoff for the Republican nomination, following a controversy involving a texting scandal.
In a statement, Lahmeyer cited 'prayerful consideration' with his wife, Kendra, and his team as the basis for his choice to suspend his campaign. He expressed a desire not to distract from his family, church, and the constituents of Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District, who he believes deserve strong conservative representation in Washington.
The controversy arose after a report by the Daily Mail alleged that Lahmeyer had sent romantic text messages to a woman who is not his wife. Following the publication of this story on Sunday, Lahmeyer admitted to inappropriate behavior but criticized the timing and nature of the report. He stated on X that he had already addressed the matter privately with his wife through counsel and prayer, affirming that he had crossed a boundary with his text messages and had ceased all communication with the individual involved.
Lahmeyer, who serves as the lead pastor of Sheridan Church in Tulsa, previously united a group of pastors to advocate for Trump’s reelection in 2024. In recognition of his support, Trump endorsed Lahmeyer in May.
Although Trump reaffirmed his support for Lahmeyer on Monday, his stance shifted on Wednesday when he announced he would be backing Lahmeyer’s runoff opponent, state lawmaker Mark Tedford. In a post on Truth Social, Trump acknowledged Lahmeyer’s efforts under challenging circumstances but declared his support for Tedford, referring to him as an 'America First Patriot.'
With Lahmeyer’s exit from the race, the path is now clearer for Tedford as he seeks to succeed GOP Representative Kevin Hern, who is campaigning for a Senate seat.
