Republican John Lastinger has won the special election for a South Carolina state House seat vacated by ex-state Rep. RJ May (R), who pleaded guilty this year to distributing child sexual abuse material, according to Decision Desk HQ.
Lastinger, a pastor, defeated Democrat and retired Army Col. Joseph “Chuck” Hightower to win state House District 88, representing the reliably red Lexington County seat until the current term ends next fall.
The seat opened up when May resigned in August after being charged with distributing child sexual abuse material.
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.
