Pastors for Trump founder quits race over texts to former Miss Oklahoma about drugs, strip clubs
The Daily Mail reported he exchanged thousands of romantic text messages with a woman who worked as a fundraiser for his campaign.
Mason Reed 
Jackson Lahmeyer, the Oklahoma minister and founder of Pastors for Trump, has officially withdrawn from the runoff for Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District seat. His sudden exit follows reports that he engaged in an extensive series of romantic text messages with a former campaign fundraiser.
A Quick Exit
Just one day after securing a spot in the August runoff, Lahmeyer announced his departure on Wednesday. He stated that the decision came after a period of prayer with his wife, Kendra, and his campaign team. Lahmeyer noted that he wished to avoid being a distraction to his family, his church, and the district’s voters.
Trump Shifts Support
Lahmeyer’s announcement arrived shortly after former President Donald Trump threw his support behind Lahmeyer's runoff opponent, Mark Tedford. Trump praised Tedford, a state representative, as being “Pro Trump and MAGA all the way!” despite having endorsed Lahmeyer as recently as Monday for his work with the Pastors for Trump coalition, a group instrumental in the 2024 campaign.
The Controversy
The downfall began when the Daily Mail reported that Lahmeyer had exchanged thousands of romantic texts with a former Miss Oklahoma who had served as a campaign staffer. KFOR TV reported that in some of these messages, Lahmeyer referenced turning down cocaine and visiting a strip club after a trip to Mar-a-Lago.
While Lahmeyer acknowledged in a since-deleted social media post that he had “crossed a boundary line,” he maintained that the matter had already been addressed privately. His campaign did not respond to questions regarding his communication with Trump or the deletion of his social media profiles.
Church and Future Appearances
Lahmeyer continues to serve as pastor at Sheridan Church in Tulsa. The church's website lists him as a featured speaker for an upcoming event dubbed Remnant Rising. Other slated speakers include former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who received a presidential pardon during the first Trump administration.
