Democrats are contesting a Lexington County State House seat after Republican RJ May resigned following a guilty plea to distributing child pornography. Democrat J. Chuck Hightower faces Republican John Lastinger in the special election. Election officials are tallying returns while Decision Desk HQ tracks live results. The outcome will be watched for its symbolic significance in a deep-red state.
Live: South Carolina Special Election — Democrats Seek To Flip Lexington County Seat After RJ May Resignation
Democrats are mounting a challenge to flip a deeply Republican South Carolina State House seat after the district’s incumbent, Republican RJ May, resigned following a guilty plea to distributing child pornography.
Who Is Running
J. Chuck Hightower is the Democratic nominee, facing Republican John Lastinger for the Lexington County seat. The special election is drawing attention both locally and statewide because of the circumstances that prompted the vacancy and the symbolic implications for partisan control in a deep-red state.
Election Night: Returns and Reporting
Election officials are overseeing vote counts as precincts report returns. Live results are being tracked by Decision Desk HQ, which is aggregating returns as they come in.
Why This Race Matters
Beyond determining local representation, the outcome will be watched for its political symbolism: whether Democrats can make inroads in conservative territory and how voters respond following the resignation of the former representative. While a single seat is unlikely to shift statewide control on its own, special elections can signal broader trends ahead of future races.
Background
RJ May, the former Republican representative for the district, resigned after pleading guilty to charges related to distributing child pornography. The resignation triggered the special election to fill the Lexington County seat.
Stay Informed: For live vote updates, follow Decision Desk HQ and local election officials’ reporting.
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