Former Oklahoma GOP Chairs Urge Chair Charity Linch to Rescind Endorsement of Jackson Lahmeyer, Citing Breach of Long-Standing Custom

Former Oklahoma Republican Party chairs are urging current Chair Charity Linch to rescind her endorsement of Pastor Jackson Lahmeyer, arguing it violates a longstanding party tradition of neutrality in primary elections.

The call comes after Linch publicly endorsed Lahmeyer, a Tulsa-area pastor and founder of Pastors for Trump, in his campaign for Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District. Multiple former state GOP chairs, speaking through party channels, said the endorsement breaks with historical practice where party chairs refrain from favoring one Republican candidate over another during contested primaries.

Lahmeyer, who leads Sheridan Church in Tulsa and has served in the White House Faith Office, gained national attention in 2025 following an Internal Revenue Service court filing that stated churches may endorse political candidates without risking their tax-exempt status, effective July 7 of that year. Lahmeyer has said the ruling allows religious leaders to speak freely on political matters without fear of IRS retaliation.

He has previously noted that despite numerous reports filed against his church with the IRS over his political commentary, none have resulted in enforcement action. Lahmeyer maintains that engaging in politics is consistent with religious duty, stating that “politics impacts policy and policy directly impacts people,” and that shaping policy requires political engagement.

The internal party debate over Linch’s endorsement reflects broader tensions within the Oklahoma GOP as candidates vie for congressional nominations ahead of the 2026 elections. While the party has not issued an official statement on the matter, several former leaders have emphasized that maintaining neutrality during primaries is essential to party unity and fairness.

As of April 23, 2026, Linch has not publicly responded to the calls to withdraw her endorsement, nor has she indicated any intention to step down from her role as chairwoman.