President Donald Trump has endorsed Tulsa pastor and former U.S. Senate candidate Jackson Lahmeyer in Oklahoma’s open 1st Congressional District race, injecting new national attention into an already crowded Republican primary.
Trump announced the endorsement Wednesday on Truth Social, calling Lahmeyer a “MAGA Warrior” and praising his support dating back to the 2016 presidential campaign.
The endorsement immediately boosts Lahmeyer’s standing in the Republican contest to succeed outgoing U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern, who is vacating the seat to run for U.S. Senate.
Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District, centered in Tulsa and northeastern Oklahoma, is considered safely Republican, meaning the GOP primary winner will likely enter the general election as the favorite.
Lahmeyer formally entered the race in March after months of speculation.
His candidacy quickly drew attention because of his longstanding ties to Trump-aligned political and evangelical networks developed during his 2022 Senate challenge against U.S. Sen. James Lankford.
During that race, Lahmeyer positioned himself as an aggressive America First conservative and criticized Lankford from the right over issues tied to the 2020 presidential election and the certification process in Congress.
Retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn and longtime Republican operative Roger Stone both publicly supported Lahmeyer during the Senate campaign.
Trump, however, declined to endorse a candidate in that race.
Lankford ultimately defeated Lahmeyer decisively in the Republican primary.
Since then, Lahmeyer has continued building relationships inside Trump-aligned political circles through his national “Pastors for Trump” organization, which mobilizes evangelical pastors and conservative churchgoers.
His campaign has emphasized faith, conservative social issues and loyalty to Trump.
The Republican primary field also includes Oklahoma Corporation Commission Chair Kim David and state Rep. Mark Tedford of Jenks, among other candidates.
Trump’s endorsement is expected to influence fundraising, grassroots organizing and outside political support as the race develops.
Political observers say the backing could help consolidate a significant share of the district’s pro-Trump Republican base behind Lahmeyer early in the campaign.
At the same time, the endorsement may increase pressure on other Republican candidates to determine how closely they align themselves with Trump in a district where he remains highly popular among GOP primary voters.
The open-seat contest is already drawing heightened interest because of the number of experienced Republican candidates competing for one of the state’s safest congressional seats.
Trump’s endorsement is likely to become a central feature of Lahmeyer’s campaign as the Republican primary intensifies in the coming months.
