Trump takes back pastor's endorsement in Oklahoma race after scandal
Lahmeyer suspended his campaign after published messages with a former pageant winner drew attention.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYCredibility rates Yahoo News, which republished this story. The other scores rate the article itself.
The page carries a UPI dateline, indicating the reporting was produced by an established wire service and distributed by Yahoo News. The article attributes key details to named outlets and identifies its author.
- Source type — The article is attributed to UPI, an established wire service.
- Author attribution — The page identifies an author and the article opens with a UPI dateline.
- Editorial standards — The article attributes reporting about the messages to named publications rather than presenting those details as independently verified.
The report gives the candidates’ primary vote shares, quotes Lahmeyer’s explanation and Trump’s endorsement change, and attributes the reporting about the messages to named outlets. It is concise and provides limited context or independent corroboration.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article includes Trump’s stated rationale for supporting Tedford and Lahmeyer’s response to the published messages and his reason for leaving the race. It offers little additional context or independent perspective.
- Counterarguments presented — Lahmeyer’s response that the messages were cherry-picked is included.
- Source diversity — The article includes statements from both Trump and Lahmeyer, while relying on other outlets for reporting about the messages.
- Omitted context — The brief report provides limited context about the messages or the candidates’ campaigns.
The article reports the endorsement change and campaign suspension in straightforward language, using attributed quotations and without an evident partisan framing.
- Language tone — Mostly neutral wording describes the endorsement change and campaign exit.
- Source selection — The article attributes the relevant claims to the people involved and to named news outlets.
- Framing — The report centers on the campaign developments rather than urging support for either candidate.
Republished with credit
Republished from United Press International, with credit to the original publisher.
56 stories · 88–89 · updated Oct 6, 2026
This is United Press International's own score, and this article is credited to United Press International. The host score in the Source Check is Yahoo News's.
President Donald Trump withdrew his endorsement of Oklahoma House candidate Jackson Lahmeyer and backed Rep. Mark Tedford. Lahmeyer then suspended his campaign after published messages with a former Miss Oklahoma pageant winner drew attention.
Trump had endorsed Lahmeyer before the Republican primary, where Lahmeyer was expected to advance to a runoff against Tedford. After The Daily Mail published messages between Lahmeyer and a former Miss Oklahoma pageant winner, Lahmeyer acknowledged sending them but said they were “carefully cherry-picked.”
Trump said he appreciated Lahmeyer’s work but would support Tedford in the race. Lahmeyer announced that he was suspending his campaign, saying he did not want to be a distraction. Tedford received 32% of the primary vote and Lahmeyer received 25%; neither won a majority. Rep. Kevin Hern is running for Senate.
Community verdict
15 VOTESPeople in this story
SWIPE →President who withdrew his endorsement of Lahmeyer and backed Tedford
Trump's version of this story ↗Representative whose seat the candidates sought
Republican House candidate backed by Trump
Part of a bigger story
30 OUTLETSOutlets report that Lahmeyer suspended his Oklahoma congressional campaign after reports about text messages involving a former campaign fundraiser. They also report that Trump withdrew his endorsement and backed Mark Tedford. Left-leaning outlets frame the withdrawal as a scandal-driven political rebuke, including a contrast over how parties handle candidate scandals. Center outlets mostly recount the messages, Lahmeyer’s response and the campaign fallout in attributed, descriptive terms. Right-leaning outlets focus more on Trump’s endorsement switch and its effect on the race, with some also reporting Lahmeyer’s claim that his decision came first.
- ARTICLES
- 34
- OUTLETS
- 30
- AVG CRED
- 73
- The Daily Caller · Trump-Backed Megachurch Pastor Ends Campaign After Texting Scandal With Former Pageant Queen
- Yahoo News · Trump switches support in Oklahoma congressional race as formerly endorsed pastor candidate suspends campaign
- Newsone · Trump-Endorsed Candidate Drops Out Over Text Message Scandal
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