Here’s who Lexington County voters picked to replace RJ May in SC state House
Republican John Lastinger, the pastor of the EDGE Church, is headed to the State House after he won Tuesday’s special election to succeed former state Rep. RJ May in House District 88.
According to Tuesday’s unofficial election results, Lastinger received 1,672 votes for 62.32% of the vote in the Lexington County district. Democratic nominee Chuck Hightower received 1,010 votes for 37.64%.
Turnout was low for the special election two days before Christmas, an obstacle both campaigns and local county parties had to try to overcome. The election was a test of each parties’ ability to turn out its base.
The heavily Republican district was expected to be won by Lastinger in Tuesday’s election. President Donald Trump won 67% of the vote in the district in the 2024 election. Former Vice President Kamala Harris had 32% of the vote.
Democrats had hoped for an even narrower margin in this race. Richland County Democratic Party members helped the Lexington County Democratic Party knock doors to turn out the vote.
But the Lexington County Republican Party had its own efforts, and Lastinger came close to matching Trump’s vote share, at least on a percentage basis.
Ahead of the special election, the Lexington County Republican Party announced that Lastinger, who was supported by members of the hard-line conservative S.C. House Freedom Caucus, also received the support from members of the House GOP Caucus.
Lastinger will complete the final year of May’s unfinished term as the former House member resigned in August before pleading guilty to five counts of distributing child sexual abuse material.
Lastinger along with the rest of the state House of Representatives will be up for election in 2026. Filing to run in next year’s elections is in March.
Through Dec. 3, Hightower had raised more than $9,500 for his campaign and spent more than $7,200, according to state Ethics Commission reports.
Through Dec. 3, Lastinger had raised $3,500 for the general election. However, he ran in a four-person GOP primary and won the nomination in a runoff election, so GOP voters were already familiar with him.
Special election results in the Upstate
Voters in the Upstate filled two more seats in the General Assembly on Tuesday.
Dianne Mitchell was elected in House District 21 in Greenville County to complete the final year of state Rep. Bobby Cox’s unfinished term. Mitchell was alone on the ballot and received 1,494 votes for 70.34% in the reliable Republican district. Democrat Dexter Reaves mounted a late write-in campaign. Only 630 write-in votes were cast in Tuesday’s election.
In state Senate District 12, which covers parts of Spartanburg and Greenville counties, voters elected to send Lee Bright back to the upper chamber. Bright received 3,536 votes for 67.37% of the vote, according to Tuesday’s unofficial results.
Bright, a firebrand who served in the state Senate for two terms, will complete the final three years of state Sen. Roger Nutt’s term. Nutt resigned after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Bright was alone on the ballot, but Democrat Steve Evered mounted a write-in campaign. Voters cast 1,713 write-in votes.
This story was originally published December 23, 2025 at 8:41 PM.
