Who wants to finish RJ May’s SC House term? Here’s who filed in Lexington County
Five hopefuls filed by Saturday’s deadline to complete former state Rep. RJ May’s unfinished term in the Lexington County district.
Four Republicans and one Democrat jumped into the race, ensuring a competitive contest in the Dec. 23 special election. However, because the district is heavily Republican, whoever wins the Oct. 21 GOP primary will be the overwhelming favorite to win the seat. President Donald Trump received 67% of the vote in the district in the November 2024 election.
May resigned from his seat in August after he was indicted on 10 counts of distributing child sexual abuse material.
The District 88 Republican field to replace May includes Brian Duncan, Lorelei Graye, John Lastinger and Darren E. Rogers Sr.
Duncan, who ran for the seat in 2020, launched a write-campaign in October 2024 against May when questions surrounded the then-state representative after his house was searched by federal law enforcement. More than 1,100 people wrote-in a name in November’s District 88 election.
Graye, who founded Leodoran Financial, lost to May in the June 2024 primary.
Lastinger, a pastor at The Edge Church, ran for the seat in 2020, but lost in the primary.
Rogers serves on the Lexington County Mental Health Board.
Joseph “Chuck” Hightower, a retired Army colonel, is the only person who filed for the Democratic nomination and is set to appear on the Dec. 23 ballot.
Early voting ahead of the Oct. 21 primary will be from Oct. 6-17.
If no Republican receives a majority of the votes in the primary, a runoff election will take place Nov. 4, with early voting from Oct. 29-31.
Early voting for the special election will take place Dec. 8-19.
This story was originally published September 8, 2025 at 11:35 AM.
