SC Freedom Caucus calls special primary results victory against ‘establishment’
The hard-line conservative S.C. House Freedom Caucus may be on track to add two members when the General Assembly returns in January.
A candidate supported by Freedom Caucus members won a Republican runoff in a district previously represented by one of the group’s founders who resigned earlier this year on federal child pornography charges.
Another candidate backed by Freedom Caucus members won a close Republican runoff in an Upstate district. Even though a lawmaker needs to be invited and accept to join the Freedom Caucus its allies were declaring victory.
Former Freedom Caucus chairman Adam Morgan said Dianne Mitchell in House District 21 in Greenville County and John Lastinger in House District 88 in Lexington County “won State House runoffs despite deluge of establishment attack ads.”
The hard-line Freedom Caucus has been at odds with the House GOP caucus for several years. The House GOP caucus has been upset over tactics used by the hard-lines members, and Freedom Caucus members questioned whether the General Assembly with Republican supermajorities is truly pushing conservative policies.
Even though the Freedom Caucus does not disclose how many members it has, it is estimated it had 15 members, along with former state Rep. RJ May, consistently voting as a bloc. If Lastinger and Mitchell join the Freedom Caucus, it would bring the number up to 17.
Both Mitchell and Lastinger still need to go through Dec. 23 elections before formally winning the seats.
Mitchell is the only candidate on the Dec. 23 ballot in House District 21. Lastinger faces off against Democratic nominee Joseph “Chuck” Hightower in House District 88. Lastinger, as the Republican nominee, is the favorite to win that election. President Donald Trump carried 67% of the vote in the district in the 2024 election.
On the night of the District 88 runoff, Lastinger already was thinking about whether he would join one of the competing caucuses.
“They could have good ideas, but if they’re mean and nasty, I don’t want to be a part of that one,” Lastinger said on the night of the runoff. “I want to be part of something that’s going to bring healing and answers and solutions and be a blessing and work together with people.” House Majority Leader Davey Hiott acknowledged how the candidates backed by the House GOP caucus lost.
“We had other candidates we’d prefer to see to win, but the voters have decided. Both were close elections, we’ll see how they fit in,” Hiott said.
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In House District 98, where state Rep. Chris Murphy resigned, the candidate backed by Freedom Caucus Chairman Jordan Pace finished third in the three-person primary, which is going to a runoff.
The House GOP caucus still won’t back a candidate in the runoff which features Greg Ford, characterized as anti-establishment, and Brian Hill, who was financially supported by Murphy and his law firm.
“We’ll just let that one play its way out and see what happens,” Hiott said. “I think they’re both pretty good candidates.”
Pace, however, celebrated the primary and runoff results, saying the results show it’s a rebuke against establishment members of the House GOP.
“A lot of money was spent to push more establishment view of candidates and it was not a rousing success for any of them,” Pace said.
Pace also pointed to Lee Bright’s expected return to the state Senate. He won the Senate District 12 Republican primary and faces no opposition in the Dec. 23 special election.
“The people of South Carolina want conservative policies and conservative results they don’t want the same thing that’s been happening the last 20 years.” Pace said.
The Senate GOP Caucus backed another candidate against Bright.
“He ran, he won. People showed up, they voted, and they voted for him, and so he gets to be their (senator). I mean, I don’t know that there are areas around the state where people wouldn’t want to vote for me. I understand,” said Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey. “He’s here. I think he’s here sincerely. He wants to make some changes on things, so we’ll have those debates, and we’ll see how things go.”
