Lahmeyer Campaign Collapse
Trump-backed Oklahoma pastor exits House race after inappropriate text scandal.
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Updated Jun 17, 8:20pm ETBoth sides, every morning
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The reporting
Left & CenterJackson Lahmeyer, a Tulsa megachurch pastor and founder of Pastors for Trump, suspended his campaign for Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District one day after advancing to an August Republican runoff. Lahmeyer said he made the “difficult decision” after prayerful consideration with his wife, Kendra, and campaign team, saying he did not want to be a distraction. His withdrawal followed reports that he sent romantic or intimate text messages to a woman who is not his wife. The exit abruptly reshaped the GOP contest for the seat, which opened as Rep. Kevin Hern pursued a Senate bid.
Analysis & opinion
Trump Endorsement SwitchMostly Left
Donald Trump withdrew his endorsement of Lahmeyer as the texting scandal intensified and backed Republican rival Mark Tedford in the Oklahoma runoff. The reversal came shortly before Lahmeyer publicly announced he was suspending his campaign, adding a dramatic MAGA-world twist to the race.
Beauty Queen AllegationsCenter & Right
Reports identified the woman linked to the scandal as Caitlin Simmons Key, a former Miss Oklahoma USA and campaign fundraiser, and described explicit texts and an alleged intimate relationship. The revelations undercut Lahmeyer’s campaign image as a conservative Christian pastor and accelerated pressure on him to leave the race.
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