Jackson Lahmeyer, the megachurch pastor and founder of Pastors for Trump, suspended his campaign for Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District on Wednesday, just one day after advancing to a runoff election. President Trump swiftly withdrew his endorsement and threw his support behind businessman Mark Tedford, the first-place finisher in Tuesday's primary.

The dramatic reversal came after a British tabloid published allegations that Lahmeyer had exchanged inappropriate text messages with a former female campaign staffer. The pastor admitted to the communications, acknowledging they were "inappropriate" though he maintained the relationship never became physical.

Trump Moves Quickly to Back New Candidate

President Trump wasted no time distancing himself from the scandal. In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced he would "be supporting America First Patriot, Mark Tedford" for the Oklahoma seat. Trump had endorsed Lahmeyer as recently as Monday, praising the "MAGA Warrior" for his work building the Pastors for Trump faith leader alliance since 2022.

Tedford, a businessman who invested more than $1 million of his own money into his campaign, had secured backing from Oklahoma's Republican State House speaker. He finished first in Tuesday's runoff with 32 percent of the vote, compared to Lahmeyer's 25 percent. Neither candidate reached the majority threshold needed to avoid a runoff.

Another Setback for Trump Endorsements

Lahmeyer's exit marks another disappointment for Trump's endorsement record this cycle. On the same day, Georgia businessman Rick Jackson defeated Trump's preferred candidate, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, in the gubernatorial primary. Earlier this month, Trump's choice for Iowa governor, Rep. Randy Feenstra, lost his primary to businessman Zach Lahn.

The Oklahoma 1st District seat is being vacated by Rep. Kevin Hern, who is running for Senate. The deep-red district is expected to remain in Republican hands, with Tedford now the overwhelming favorite to win the general election.

Lahmeyer's Rise and Fall

Lahmeyer leads Sheridan Church, a megachurch in Tulsa. He first gained national attention through his Pastors for Trump organization, which sought to mobilize evangelical Christian leaders behind the former president. His campaign leaned heavily on his faith credentials and close ties to the MAGA movement.

The text message scandal surfaced approximately two months ago according to some reports, but only became widely known after the British tabloid's publication this week. Lahmeyer's decision to suspend his campaign rather than fight through the controversy suggests the damage was insurmountable.

For Republican voters in Oklahoma's 1st District, the primary drama has concluded with a clear path forward. Tedford will face the Democratic nominee in November, carrying Trump's endorsement into what should be a comfortable victory in one of America's most conservative congressional districts.