Jackson Lahmeyer, a Tulsa pastor who had been endorsed by President Donald Trump for Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District, withdraws from a GOP primary runoff for the U.S. House seat. Multiple outlets report that Lahmeyer’s exit follows scrutiny related to a texting scandal that derailed his campaign. The New York Times and CBS News note that Trump rescinds his endorsement shortly before Lahmeyer announces his withdrawal, and that Trump instead backs Lahmeyer’s Republican rival in the runoff. The Hill similarly reports that Lahmeyer steps out of the runoff after a reversal of Trump’s endorsement, citing consultations with his wife and campaign team.
The reporting is consistent in describing Lahmeyer as “Pastors for Trump” founder and identifying the election context as a runoff in a Republican primary for Oklahoma’s solidly conservative 1st district. Sources agree the texting controversy is central to the change in fortunes for Lahmeyer, and that Trump’s late endorsement shift plays a direct role in the decision for him to leave the race.
