SouthernWorldwide.com – In a surprising turn of events within the Oklahoma congressional race, former President Donald Trump has rescinded his endorsement of Republican candidate Jackson Lahmeyer. This dramatic shift occurred shortly before Lahmeyer announced he was suspending his own campaign.
Trump has now publicly backed Mark Tedford, a rival Republican candidate. This reversal marks a significant development in the 2026 midterm cycle, especially given Trump’s previous strong support for Lahmeyer.
According to AP election results, Tedford secured the leading position with 32.2% of the vote, while Lahmeyer followed in second place with 25.9%. Both candidates were set to advance to a runoff election for the U.S. House seat, which is being vacated by Rep. Kevin Hern as he runs for the U.S. Senate.
The former President had initially lauded Lahmeyer as a “MAGA Warrior” and a steadfast ally. Trump’s endorsement switch came to light on Wednesday through a post on Truth Social, his social media platform.
In his statement, Trump expressed appreciation for Lahmeyer’s efforts under challenging circumstances, noting their consistent support for each other. However, he declared his intention to support Mark Tedford for the Congressional race in Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District, referring to Tedford as an “America First Patriot.”
Trump further described Tedford as being “Pro Trump and MAGA all the way,” affirming his “Complete and Total Endorsement.”
Less than ten minutes after Trump’s announcement, Lahmeyer took to X, formerly Twitter, to reveal his decision to suspend his campaign. He stated that the decision was made after prayerful consideration with his wife, Kendra, and his team over the preceding twenty-four hours.
Lahmeyer expressed his desire not to be a distraction to his family, his church, and the constituents of Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District, emphasizing their need for a strong conservative representative in Washington.
Trump’s decision to withdraw his endorsement followed a period of considerable challenges for Lahmeyer’s campaign. Reports published by the Daily Mail brought to light communications between Lahmeyer and Caitlin Simmons Key, a former Miss Oklahoma USA.
Lahmeyer subsequently admitted to having crossed “a boundary line through text messaging,” while also contesting what he characterized as a misleading portrayal of the situation.
Neither former President Trump nor the White House has provided a public explanation for the change in endorsement. With Lahmeyer out of the race, Tedford is now positioned as the likely Republican nominee in a district that strongly favors the GOP.
