Fox News contributors Kaylee McGhee White. Meghan Hays analyze President Donald Trump's significant endorsement power after Ken Paxton's decisive victory over John Cornyn in the Texas GOP primary runoff.
PresidentDonald Trumpwithdrew his endorsement of Oklahoma GOP congressional candidate Jackson Lahmeyer on Wednesday,. threw his support behind Republican rival Mark Tedford, a dramatic reversal that came shortly before Lahmeyer publicly announced he was suspending his campaign.
Lahmeyer told Fox News Digital, however, that he made the decision to end his campaign the night before. informed his wife and campaign team before Trump's endorsement switch.
"I made my decision to drop out of the race last night," Lahmeyer told Fox News Digital. "I decided to choose my wife over my ambition. I informed my wife about my decision late last night and then my campaign team early this morning. My decision did not take place because of the decision of POTUS this afternoon."
AP resultsshowed Tedford finishing first with 32.2% and Lahmeyer second with 25.9%, advancing bothRepublicansto a runoff election to succeed Rep. Kevin Hern, who is running for the U.S. Senate.
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Republican pastor Jackson Lahmeyer formally suspended his campaign for House District OK-01 Wednesday via X. mere minutes after President Donald Trump withdrew his endorsement on Truth Social.(Ballotpedia)
Trump had previously endorsed Lahmeyer as a "MAGA Warrior". longtime ally, making Wednesday's endorsement switch one of the more notable reversals of the2026 midterm cycle.
At approximately 2:23 p.m., Trumpannounced on Truth Socialthat he was backing Tedford.
"I greatly appreciate Jackson Lahmeyer's hard work under difficult circumstances — He has always been with me,. I will always be with him," Trump wrote. "But. when it comes to the current Congressional race for Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District, I will be supporting America First Patriot, Mark Tedford."
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President Donald Trump attends a bilateral meeting at the Hotel Royal Évian in Évian-les-Bains. France, Monday, during the Group of 7 summit.(Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
The president described Tedford as "Pro Trump. MAGA all the way" and said the state lawmaker had his "Complete and Total Endorsement."
At approximately 2:32 p.m., Lahmeyer announced on X that he was suspending his campaign.
"After prayerful consideration with my wife, Kendra,. my team over the last twenty four hours, I've made the difficult decision to suspend my campaign for Congress," Lahmeyer said.
"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."
Fox News Digital reached out to Lahmeyer, Tedford and theWhite Housefor comment. A White House official referred Fox News Digital to Trump's Truth Social statement and did not provide additional comment.
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Lahmeyer was seeking to represent Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District in Washington, D.C.(Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images, File)
Trump's decision marked a sharp turn from his earlier endorsement of Lahmeyer, whom he praised beforeOklahoma's June 16 primary.
The endorsement reversal came after a turbulent stretch for Lahmeyer's campaign. The Daily Mailpublished reportsregarding Lahmeyer's communications with former Miss Oklahoma USA Caitlin Simmons Key.
Lahmeyer later acknowledged. he had crossed "a boundary line through text messaging" while disputing what he described as a misleading characterization of the situation.
Neither president Trump nor the White House publicly explained the reason for the endorsement change. Tedford is now positioned as the likely Republican nominee in the strongly GOP district.
Jasmine Baehr is a Breaking News Writer for Fox News Digital, where she covers politics, the military, faith and culture.
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