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An Oklahoma pastor running for Congress says he "crossed a boundary line" by sending text messages to a woman who is not his wife.The remarks came less than two days before the primary election and hours after a tabloid news site published text threads alleged to be between the Rev. Jackson Lahmeyer and Caitlin Key, Miss Oklahoma USA 2007.After initially agreeing to an interview, Key did not respond to follow up questions from The Oklahoman.Lahmeyer's 1st Congressional District candidacy has been high profile mainly because he has been endorsed by President Donald Trump and several Republican congressional leaders. He started an organization called Pastors for Trump to galvanize evangelicals ahead of the 2024 presidential election. He has worked with political adviser Roger Stone, a close ally of Trump.The Daily Mail reported that Key worked as a fundraiser for Lahmeyer's congressional campaign. She told the news outlet that they met in 2022, when the minister was in the midst of his ultimately unsuccessful challenge of incumbent U.S. Sen. James Lankford. According to the Daily Mail report, the preacher and Key exchanged a series of text messages in the spring 2026 that his wife eventually read.In one of the text messages, Lahmeyer calls Key "very cute." She responded with "The question is why are you texting me when you are at a fancy party at Maralago?" Lahmeyer texts back: "I like texting you lol."In another thread, Key hinted at Lahmeyer's marital status."And at some point - if u need to get divorced. Then ok," she said."Not right now tho lol," Lahmeyer replied."No one's asking, but again I've been down this road. I don't want you to hate me. U r in love with me and we don't even have sex," Key said.According to the news outlet, Key said Lahmeyer's wife contacted her and accused her of having an inappropriate relationship with her husband.Lahmeyer, the pastor of Sheridan Church in Tulsa, has not returned The Oklahoman's request for comment regarding the allegations.However, in a statement posted on his Facebook page late Sunday, June 14, Lahmeyer admitted to sending text messages to Key. He described the Daily Mail story published earlier that day as "distorted.""This matter was already dealt with privately between me and my wife, Kendra, through counsel and prayer with God and spiritual advisors," Lahmeyer, 34, wrote."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."Lahmeyer said in his online statement that his communication with Key was "carefully cherry-picked to create an impression that is not accurate."He also pointed out the timing of the story's release, just a few days shy of the primary election, where he will compete against nine other Republicans."I am beyond grateful to have Kendra’s support," he said. "I am fully committed to my family, church and Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District."One of Lahmeyer's opponents in the congressional race, Kim David, lobbed criticism at the pastor, saying she would "never bring embarrassment to our district.""Pastors are given sacred responsibility to shepherd their flocks, and that responsibility requires trust," David wrote in a post on the X social media platform on Sunday. "Sadly, Jackson Lahmeyer has broken that trust. It is clear that Roger Stone's handpicked candidate lacks the character and judgement to serve us in Congress."Meanwhile, in a Truth Social post on Monday, June 15, Trump reaffirmed his endorsement of Lahmeyer and hinted at the Daily Mail story.Lahmeyer reposted Trump's endorsement on Facebook, saying he stands with Trump."The deep state and career politicians in this race are doing everything they can to stop us," Lahmeyer wrote. "Last-second smears designed to deceive Oklahoma conservatives because they know I will always stand with President Trump and the people of OK-1."
