TULSA, Okla. – State Rep. John Waldron, D-Tulsa, announced he is ending his campaign for reelection following recent misconduct allegations and pressure from his party.
In a statement released Monday, Waldron acknowledged wrongdoing and said he is stepping aside after reflecting on the situation.
“After careful reflection… I have decided to end my campaign for reelection,” Waldron said. “Stepping aside is the right thing to do for the people of District 77.”
Waldron said he made a serious mistake that harmed another person.
“In an instant, I sacrificed my integrity, doing something which was wrong and hurt someone,” he said. “It shouldn’t have happened, period.”
He also said that protecting the privacy of the person involved remains a priority.
Waldron said he is currently attending counseling and plans to continue therapy moving forward.
“I am implementing the lessons I glean from every session into my life every day to become a better person,” he said.
He also issued an apology to the person involved, his constituents and supporters.
“I want you to know the depth and breadth of the sorrow and remorse in my heart,” Waldron said.
Background on allegations
The decision comes after allegations surfaced that Waldron sent an AI-generated video depicting him kissing another woman to the person shown in the video.
The complaint was reviewed by House Democratic Caucus leadership and later forwarded to the Oklahoma Democratic Party.
Party leaders have since said Waldron was asked to step down and would not receive support for reelection.
What’s next
Waldron said his focus will now shift to personal growth and continuing therapy.
“Stepping aside is the right thing to do… and for me to continue my personal therapy to be a better person,” he said.
This article was originally published by KOTV (News on 6). You can see the original story here.