Jackson Lahmeyer, a prominent Trump-backed pastor and former congressional candidate, publicly admitted Thursday to having an affair with former Miss Oklahoma USA Caitlin Simmons Key in 2022. This admission came days after he had denied any physical relationship with Key and just one day after he announced his withdrawal from Oklahoma’s Republican primary race for Congress. Lahmeyer, who founded Pastors for Trump and serves as pastor of Sheridan Church in Tulsa, made the confession during an interview with the Daily Mail. His statement followed the publication of several reports detailing his relationship with Key, who had served as a fundraiser for his congressional campaign.
"We kissed and in 2022 I had an affair on my wife and I’ve owned that." — Jackson Lahmeyer, Pastor and Former Congressional Candidate
Prior to his admission, Lahmeyer, a married father of five, had vehemently denied a physical relationship despite reports surfacing about intimate text messages exchanged between the two during the campaign. One such message, reportedly from Lahmeyer, stated, “I enjoyed those lips,” which intensified scrutiny of his conduct. The situation escalated when Key publicly described multiple instances of kissing between them and challenged Lahmeyer’s denials. Confronted with Key’s account, Lahmeyer acknowledged its truthfulness. When asked directly if Key had been dishonest, he responded, “No, she is not lying.” He further confirmed that their relationship extended beyond kissing during a period in 2022. “We kissed and in 2022 I had an affair on my wife and I’ve owned that,” Lahmeyer stated.
This admission represented a significant reversal for the candidate, who had previously attempted to distance himself from the allegations surrounding the relationship. Both Lahmeyer and Key confirmed that they initially met in 2021 through Republican political circles in Oklahoma. Their relationship reportedly deepened after they reconnected while Key was navigating a divorce, with Lahmeyer reaching out to offer support during what she described as a difficult period in her life.
Key detailed the affair as a single encounter that took place in late 2022 after the pair met for drinks. “It was just that one night,” Key told the publication, adding that no physical relationship resumed for more than a year afterward. The details of their past relationship re-emerged during Lahmeyer’s 2026 congressional campaign when Key joined his team as a fundraiser. Key maintained that while they shared several kisses during this later campaign period, the relationship did not become sexual again.
The controversy quickly engulfed Lahmeyer’s campaign, contributing to a sharp decline in his support as Tuesday’s primary election approached. Once considered a leading contender in the race, Lahmeyer ultimately garnered 25.9 percent of the vote, finishing behind state Representative Mark Tedford. President Donald Trump, who had previously endorsed Lahmeyer as a “MAGA Warrior” earlier in the campaign, shifted his support to Tedford following the primary results, according to the Daily Mail.
Lahmeyer announced his withdrawal from the race on Wednesday, stating his intention to step away from politics. In his interview, he characterized the collapse of his campaign as a “blessing in disguise,” suggesting that the scandal had compelled him to confront personal failings he had concealed for years. “As much as I want to be in Congress, I am going to choose to make things right with my wife and my kids,” he affirmed. He also extended apologies to President Trump, his supporters, donors, church members, and his family. Lahmeyer stated that he has confessed the affair to his wife and congregation and plans to take an indefinite sabbatical from preaching. “I’ve confessed everything to my wife. I’ve confessed everything to my church,” he said, emphasizing his intention to focus on repairing his family relationships and concluding his involvement in politics.
