Republican wins S.C. state house special election post-CSAM scandal
by Chris Benson · UPIDec. 24 (UPI) -- Republican John Lastinger, a pastor and self-described conservative, won the special election for South Carolina's House District 88 to fill the seat vacated by former State Rep. RJ May.
He narrowly emerged from the GOP primary before defeating Democrat and retired Army Col. Joseph "Chuck" Hightower in the general election. Lastinger received 1,672 votes while Hightower received 1,010.
May, a Republican of Lexington County, resigned in August after being charged -- and later pleading guilty -- to five counts of distributing child sexual abuse material.
The South Carolina Freedom Caucus, founded in part by May, accepted the resignation yet maintained the House ought to have pursued expulsion, describing the episode as an "ugly chapter" in its history.
Meanwhile, May is scheduled for sentencing in January, where prosecutors said his offenses represented "some of the most depraved and exploitative conduct we investigate."
Lastinger will serve the remainder of the term through fall 2026 and must seek re-election in the upcoming midterms in order to to retain the seat.