Just a day after Jackson Lahmeyer — endorsed by President Donald Trump — won the second-most votes in the contest for Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District, the pastor of Sheridan Church says he is withdrawing from the race.
Lahmeyer finished with 26% of the vote in Tuesday’s primary election behind the 32% received by state Rep. Mark Tedford. The two were headed to a runoff Aug. 25.
An Oklahoma Election Board spokesperson said when a primary runoff candidate drops out, the runoff will not take place. The remaining candidate would be the party’s nominee for the general election.
Lahmeyer found himself at the center of a controversy after the Daily Mail alleged he exchanged flirtatious text messages with a campaign staffer leading up to the primary election. Lahmeyer admitted in a social media statement to “crossing a boundary” but dismissed it as a “distorted story.”
In a statement Wednesday, Lahmeyer said he was suspending his congressional campaign after “prayerful consideration” with his wife.
“I do not want to be a distraction to my family, my church, the great people of Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District, who deserve a strong conservative voice representing them in Washington,” according to the statement.
The statement’s headline read, “Lahmeyer to withdraw from OK-01 GOP primary runoff.” The state Election Board said he has not officially withdrawn as of Wednesday afternoon.
“As of this moment, no candidate for the U.S. Rep. Dist. 1 Republican Runoff Primary has filed a notice of withdrawal with the State Election Board Secretary as required by (law). The deadline to file a withdrawal notice is Friday by 5 p.m.,” Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax said in a written statement.
Lahmeyer stood firm in front of supporters Tuesday night, addressing the controversy at his church watch party.
“The voters of Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District, they spoke, and they rejected the relentless attacks that have come upon me and my family over the last several days — and they’ve narrowed this race down to two,” he told his supporters.
On Wednesday, Trump posted a statement on Truth Social complimenting Lahmeyer’s work “under difficult circumstances” and pledging to “always be with him.” Then, he threw his endorsement to the second-place finisher, Tedford.
“I will be supporting America First Patriot, Mark Tedford. Mark is a Pro Trump and MAGA all the way! A Proven Leader, Mark has served his Community as a Highly Respected State Legislator and Businessman,” Trump stated.
The Republican candidate will face Democrat John Croisant in the No. 3 general election.
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