Married Trump-backed pastor, political candidate Jackson Lahmeyer admits texting other woman

By Leonardo Blair, Senior Reporter Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Married Sheridan.Church pastor and Republican candidate for Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District, the Rev. Jackson Lahmeyer, admitted Monday to inappropriate texting with another woman who is not his wife and has already addressed the failure “through counsel and prayer with God and spiritual advisors.”

Lahmeyer’s admission came the day before the primary elections got underway on Tuesday. It also came two days after the Daily Mail published text messages between the pastor and Caitlin Simmons Key, a former campaign staffer and former Miss Oklahoma USA.

“Today, a distorted story from a British Tabloid was released just two days before my election. This matter was already dealt with privately between me and my wife, Kendra, through counsel and prayer with God and spiritual advisors,” Lahmeyer, who is endorsed by President Donald Trump, wrote in a statement on Facebook Sunday.

“I own crossing a boundary line through text messaging. I also ended all communication. The British Tabloid tried to paint me out in a way which is not the case. At the same time, we must ask the question if this story was paid for and why our communications were carefully cherry-picked to create an impression that is not accurate,” he added. “I am beyond grateful to have Kendra’s support. I am fully committed to my family, church, and Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District.”

Lahmeyer, a 34-year-old father of five who launched Pastors for Trump in 2022 to mobilize faith-based voters and advocate for President Trump’s "America First" agenda, said his wife, Kendra, may have more to say, while his opponents might try to “make more of this than it is.”

Trump, who endorsed Lahmeyer’s candidacy last month, reiterated that support on Truth Social on Monday.

“It is my Great Honor to endorse MAGA Warrior, Jackson Lahmeyer, who is running to represent the fantastic people of Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District, and has been with me from the very beginning of our Movement to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump stated.
 
“Jackson was the Founder of ‘Pastors For Trump,’ a nationwide coalition of faith leaders committed to advancing our America First agenda and defending Religious Liberty! A very successful pastor, businessman, and civic leader, Jackson has dedicated his life to serving his Community,” the president said, noting that Lahmeyer has his “total endorsement to be the next representative from Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District.”

In the text messages between Lahmeyer and Key, the Daily Mail shows him inviting the divorced 40-year-old single mother to his hotel room. He also discloses a time when he left Mar-a-Lago to visit a strip club at 1 a.m. and declined an offer of cocaine.

He stated in that text that he was traveling with a group that included Craig Hagin, the former co-pastor of Rhema Bible Church in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, who was recently fired by his father, Senior Pastor Kenneth W. Hagin, for conduct inconsistent with ministry leadership.

Key told the Daily Mail that she was uncomfortable with the hypocrisy of Lahmeyer’s private pursuit of her while he preaches family values and seeks high office.

“There's a real problem with the fact that he's married and a pastor,” she told the publication. “There is a responsibility when you are leading people in the name of Christ to hold yourself to a higher standard.”

She said the texting between her and Lahmeyer “crossed the line of probably what most people would consider appropriate for a married man and a single woman.”

The relationship ended last month after Lahmeyer’s wife allegedly discovered the texts and accused her of being intimate with her husband.

In one text message to Key, Lahmeyer insisted that he had told his wife their relationship did not go beyond texting.

“I've been very clear with her that I got way too close to you and shared too much about myself,” he wrote. “But we were not romantic.”