South Carolina – Republicans won all three special elections in South Carolina this week, keeping control of the contested seats even though fewer individuals voted and there was more scrutiny of changing political trends.
The campaigns filled openings in two State House districts and one State Senate seat. The GOP candidates won by a wide margin, which demonstrated that the party is still strong even during a time when elections are usually quiet.
State Reps. John Lastinger and Dianne Mitchell and State Sen. Lee Bright all won their races by a wide margin.
There were 8,729 ballots cast in the three races. This means that little under seven percent of registered voters in State House Districts 21 and 88 and State Senate District 12 voted. Even though not many people voted, Republicans stressed that their voters showed up when it mattered.
Mitchell and Bright ran without any challengers on their ballots and won by a wide margin. Mitchell got more than 70% of the vote, and Bright got more than 67%. The rest of the votes in both races went to different write-in candidates, which shows that there wasn’t any organized opposition in either campaign.
The contest for State House District 88 was the most heated. Lastinger, a pastor, ran against retired Army Col. Joseph “Chuck” Hightower, a Democrat. Lastinger got 62% of the vote, Hightower got 37%, and less than 1% of the votes went to write-in candidates. The vote handed Republicans another clean win and made it easy for them to keep the seat.
After the results came in, the South Carolina Republican Party said that the sweep was due to voter involvement. Party officials noted on social media that Republicans exhibited discipline and turnout, even though Democrats thought that low turnout may help them.
“Republicans won all three special elections and that success belongs to the voters who showed up,” the South Carolina Republican Party wrote on X.
“While Democrats hoped low turnout would hand them a win, Republicans proved them wrong at the ballot box. We didn’t sit this one out. We showed up, voted, and protected conservative leadership across South Carolina,” the SCGOP continued. “Thank you to every voter who took time away from family gatherings, travel, and holiday plans to make your voice heard. That commitment is why we win.”
“Tonight’s results send a clear message: South Carolina Republicans show up when it matters and we’re heading into 2026 organized, energized, and stronger than ever.”
At the same time, the results from District 88 got the public discussing more than just the immediate result. Lastinger’s triumph was certain, but Democrats did better than they had in recent presidential elections in the district. The Republican presidential nominee won the district by a far bigger margin in the 2024 election.
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This means that the special election showed a double-digit drop in the GOP’s lead. Even though Republicans still won by a lot, the shift signaled that Democratic candidates may be getting better at reaching people in places that are usually red.
That pattern is similar to what has happened in other recent races around the country, when special elections have sometimes had closer results than expected. Political experts frequently see these races as early signs rather than solid predictions, especially when turnout is low and the issues at stake are local. The political landscape in South Carolina is still extremely Republican, and the party still has a strong hold on legislative offices.
The immediate lesson for Republicans was clear: they kept all three seats. Party leaders said that the results were a sign of momentum going into the 2026 election cycle, with organization and voter dedication being two of the main benefits. For Democrats, the outcome in District 88 was a small but important step forward, even in defeat.
In the end, the special elections showed that Republicans are still in charge in South Carolina, but they also showed small changes that both parties will probably keep an eye on. The elections showed that even in familiar political ground, the margins may alter, and the way people vote can affect the story as much as the final count.
