President Trump has withdrawn his endorsement of Pastor Jackson Lahmeyer, a right-wing candidate for a U.S. House seat in Oklahoma. The decision followed a texting scandal involving Lahmeyer. Lahmeyer subsequently dropped out of the race.
Trump then shifted his support to Lahmeyer’s Republican rival in the runoff election. The move marks a sharp reversal from the president’s earlier public backing of the pastor. The scandal involved leaked text messages that drew criticism.
The texts raised questions about Lahmeyer’s conduct and judgment. Details of the messages have not been fully disclosed. Trump’s campaign did not provide an immediate statement on the specific reasons for the change.
Lahmeyer had positioned himself as a staunch ally of the former president. His campaign emphasized conservative Christian values. The endorsement had been seen as a key boost in the competitive primary.
The runoff election is now set to proceed without Lahmeyer. His opponent will face the Democratic candidate in the general election. Analysts view the district as reliably Republican.
The incident underscores the volatility of political endorsements. Trump has frequently used his backing to shape GOP primaries. Withdrawing support can quickly alter a race’s dynamics.
Lahmeyer has not commented publicly on the scandal or his withdrawal. His campaign website was taken down shortly after the announcement. The pastor previously led a church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The House seat is open due to the retirement of the current incumbent. The runoff election is scheduled for later this summer. Both parties are closely watching the race.
