Texting Scandal Ends Trump-Endorsed Pastor’s Campaign

A Trump-endorsed pastor ended his campaign for Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District following the leak of explicit text messages exchanged with a former Miss Oklahoma USA.

“After prayerful consideration with my wife, Kendra, and my team over the last twenty-four hours, I’ve made the difficult decision to suspend my campaign for Congress,” he wrote on X. 

“I do not want to be a distraction to my family, my church, and the great people of Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District, who deserve a strong conservative voice representing them in Washington,” he added. 

Jackson Lahmeyer, a Tulsa pastor and founder of the “Pastors for Trump” network, entered the race as one of the leading contenders — and arguably the frontrunner — for the vacant congressional seat.

Then, a salacious scandal shook up the Republican primary. 

Jackson Lahmeyer revealed that their relationship was physical after he claimed it was confined only to flirty text messages. ???? https://t.co/IPTDKzzS0e pic.twitter.com/Boo96KNYpX

— Daily Mail US (@Daily_MailUS) June 17, 2026

Days before the election, The Daily Mail published intimate texts between him and Caitlin Simmons Key, a former campaign staffer and former Miss Oklahoma USA. The texts reportedly showed the married man and father of five calling her “cute” and teasing an invitation to his hotel room. Lahmeyer also complimented her body and sent selfies from Mar-a-Lago, according to a local outlet. 

The suggestive messages included one exchange where the pastor told the woman, “I enjoyed those lips.”

In a social media post, Lahmeyer admitted to “crossing a boundary line through text messaging.” 

“This matter was already dealt with privately between me and my wife, Kendra, through counsel and prayer with God and spiritual advisors. I own crossing a boundary line through text messaging. I also ended all communication,” he said. “The British Tabloid tried to paint me out in a way which is not the case.” 

Today, a distorted story from a British Tabloid was released just two days before my election.

This matter was already dealt with privately between me and my wife, Kendra, through counsel and prayer with God and spiritual advisors. I own crossing a boundary line through text…

— Jackson Lahmeyer (@JacksonLahmeyer) June 15, 2026

Although Lahmeyer advanced to a runoff Tuesday, the Tulsa pastor posted a weaker-than-expected showing. He won 25.9% of the vote, finishing behind state Rep. and businessman Mark Tedford, who secured 32.2% and more than 4,500 additional votes.

The poor showing and inappropriate messages pushed Trump on Wednesday to pull the plug on Lahmeyer. 

“I greatly appreciate Jackson Lahmeyer’s hard work under difficult circumstances — He has always been with me, and I will always be with him. But, when it comes to the current Congressional race for Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District, I will be supporting America First Patriot, Mark Tedford,” Trump said on Truth Social. 

Trump previously endorsed Lahmeyer and doubled down on Tuesday’s primary, calling him a “MAGA Warrior” who has “been with me from the very beginning of our Movement.”

Lahmeyer’s withdrawal makes Tedford the presumptive Republican nominee and the overwhelming favorite to win Oklahoma’s ruby-red 1st Congressional District.