Republican Wins Special Election For Vacant Seat In State Legislature

Republican John Lastinger defeated Democrat Chuck Hightower in a special election for a vacant South Carolina state House seat.

The seat was vacated by former state Rep. RJ May, who “pleaded guilty this year to distributing child sexual abuse material,” The Hill noted.

Lastinger won the election 62.3 percent to 37.7 percent.

BREAKING: John Lastinger (R) WINS South Carolina State House 88 Special Election, defeating Chuck Hightower (D), 62%-38%

Republican HOLD! pic.twitter.com/dszZ2MkT6v

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 24, 2025

More from The Hill:

May pleaded guilty to five counts this fall, according to documents from the U.S. attorney’s office for the District of South Carolina. He faces the possibility of significant prison time as he heads to sentencing in January.

U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling said the conduct to which May pleaded guilty represented “some of the most depraved and exploitative conduct we investigate.”

The South Carolina Freedom Caucus, which May helped found, welcomed the resignation but argued the state House should have acted to expel the lawmaker instead, calling the matter an “ugly chapter” for the state chamber.

Lastinger, who narrowly won the GOP primary earlier this year, pitched himself as a staunch conservative Republican running to champion Christian values, touting his support for anti-abortion policies and Second Amendment rights. He’ll serve South Carolina’s District 88 until next November, but would have to file this spring to run again in the midterms if he wants to secure a full term in the seat.

Although the district is considered a safe Republican seat, Democrats overperformed compared to the 2024 election.

South Carolina State House 88 Special Election (100% in)

John Lastinger – 62.3%
Chuck Hightower – 37.7%

This is a 12 point overperformance for Democrats from 2024, when the district was Trump+37

— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) December 24, 2025

Newsweek explained:

Trump won South Carolina in the 2024 presidential election with 58.2 percent of the vote, compared to Harris’ 40.4 percent, according to a tally from The Associated Press.

Lastinger, a pastor, said he was “running to stand up for conservative Christian values, protect our freedoms, and serve with integrity for both today’s generation and the future,” according to his campaign website.

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Hightower, a retired Army Colonel, said he was running “to fight for our veterans, improve public education, and support small businesses.”

Recent state-by-state data compiled by Civiqs found that as of December 18, Trump’s net approval rating in South Carolina was +1.

The latest polling averages from RealClearPolitics show that Trump’s job approval rating sits at 43 percent, while 53.6 percent disapprove.

However, a recent Gallup poll found that the president’s approval rating is 12 percent higher than Democrats in Congress.