Oklahoma pastor running for Congress drops out amid texting scandal

Source: USA today


Fernando Cervantes Jr. Carla Hinton

June 17, 2026, 8:20 p.m. ET

..............
Jackson Lahmeyer, who was running as a Republican in Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District, advanced to the Republican primary on Tuesday, June 16, but dropped out on Wednesday, June 17, amid the scandal.

"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," Lahmeyer said in his since-deleted X account. “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."

Lahmeyer, who started the organization Pastors for Trump, received an endorsement from President Donald Trump back in May and saw the president reiterating his support for the then-candidate on Monday, June 16, ahead of Tuesday’s primary.

“It is my Great Honor to endorse MAGA Warrior, Jackson Lahmeyer, who is running to represent the fantastic people of Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District, and has been with me from the very beginning of our Movement to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!,” Trump said..................


Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/06/17/founder-of-pastors-for-trump-drops-out-of-election-amid-texting-scandal/90598326007/

---

‪PatriotTakes 🇺🇸‬
‪@patriottakes.bsky.social‬
· 9h
Pastors for Trump founder Jackson Lahmeyer has suspended his congressional campaign after the Daily Mail published flirty text messages with a woman who wasn’t his wife.

In one text, Lawmayer said he was offered cocaine after leaving Mar-a-Lago to visit a strip club at 1am.

Pastors for Trump founder Jackson Lahmeyer has suspended his congressional campaign after the Daily Mail published flirty text messages with a woman who wasn’t his wife.

In one text, Lawmayer said he was offered cocaine after leaving Mar-a-Lago to visit a strip club at 1am.

— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes.bsky.social) 2026-06-17T20:10:19.114Z