Republican Jackson Lahmeyer has announced the suspension of his campaign for Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District. This decision follows allegations related to text messages that emerged right before the Republican primary. In a statement shared on X, Lahmeyer mentioned that, after careful consideration with his wife, Kendra, and his campaign team, he decided to withdraw his candidacy. A Tulsa-area pastor and a former U.S. Senate candidate, Lahmeyer was vying for the Republican nomination in the forthcoming congressional race.
He expressed his desire not to be a distraction to his family, church, and the Oklahomans he aimed to represent. President Donald Trump, who withdrew his endorsement of Lahmeyer on the same day, acknowledged Lahmeyer’s efforts despite tough circumstances. Trump mentioned that Lahmeyer has always been supportive and reciprocated his support.
“I do not want to be a distraction to my family, my church, and the great people of Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District,” Lahmeyer stated.
Contacted for comments by Newsweek, Lahmeyer’s campaign has yet to issue a further statement regarding the situation.
What To Know
The suspension follows a report by the Daily Mail about an alleged texting scandal that captured national interest, threatening to dominate the campaign’s final days. The controversy was ignited when alleged messages between Lahmeyer and a former Miss Oklahoma USA were published, leading to public scrutiny of his alleged behavior.
Addressing the accusations, Lahmeyer called the article a “distorted” version of events and remarked that the situation was settled privately with his wife. On Facebook, he admitted to crossing a line in communication but noted that he had ceased all contact. He questioned whether the story had been paid for and criticized the selective presentation of their interactions.
“I own crossing a boundary line through text messaging. I also ended all communication,” Lahmeyer shared on Facebook. “The British Tabloid tried to paint me out in a way which is not the case. 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 added.
Initially endorsed by Trump in early May, Lahmeyer was praised as a “MAGA Warrior” by the former president. With Lahmeyer stepping down, Trump has now shifted his endorsement to State Representative Mark Tedford. Earlier this week, Lahmeyer and Tedford progressed to a runoff election, where Lahmeyer secured second place with 25.9% of the vote.
With Lahmeyer no longer in the election race, the contest for Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District proceeds without one of its prominent candidates.
This story is evolving and will be updated when more details become available.
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