hightowerforhouse.com/johnlastinger.com
By Joe Edwards
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The Republicans won a special South Carolina House election on Tuesday, but the Democrats overperformed by double digits compared to their performance in the 2024 presidential election.
Republican John Lastinger won 62.3 percent of the vote in the election for the 88th district seat, beating Democrat Chuck Hightower, who secured 37.7 percent. This gave the Republicans a net win of +24.6 percent over the Democrats.
This represents an improved performance for the Democrats compared to the 2024 presidential election, when President Donald Trump beat Kamala Harris in the district by 67 percent to 32 percent, according to The State newspaper. In that election, the Republicans won with a net margin of +35 percentage points.
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Newsweek contacted both Lastinger and Hightower’s campaigns for comment by email outside of regular working hours.
Why It Matters
Local elections are an indicator of public sentiment in the U.S. ahead of the critical midterm elections in 2026.
The Republicans currently hold slim majorities in both U.S. chambers of Congress, but if the Democrats pick up even a small number of seats across the country it could sway the balance of power and prevent Trump from passing his legislative agenda.
...
What To Know
South Carolina's District 88 is considered a safe Republican seat.
Trump won South Carolina in the 2024 presidential election with 58.2 percent of the vote, compared to Harris' 40.4 percent, according to a tally from The Associated Press.
Lastinger, a pastor, said he was "running to stand up for conservative Christian values, protect our freedoms, and serve with integrity for both today’s generation and the future," according to his campaign website.
Hightower, a retired Army Colonel, said he was running "to fight for our veterans, improve public education, and support small businesses."
Recent state-by-state data compiled by Civiqs found that as of December 18, Trump's net approval rating in South Carolina was +1.
The latest polling averages from RealClearPolitics show that Trump's job approval rating sits at 43 percent, while 53.6 percent disapprove.
However, a recent Gallup poll found that the president's approval rating is 12 percent higher than Democrats in Congress.
What People Are Saying
Nick Sottile, executive director of the South Carolina House Democratic Caucus, told Newsweek: "The timing of the election—just two days before Christmas—made campaigning difficult. The fact that we saw an 11-point swing for Democrats in this deep red district shows that people in South Carolina are ready for change. Get ready for 2026. Colonel Chuck Hightower stepped up, talked about issues like affordability, public schools, and health care, and that’s why he was so successful."
Lastinger wrote on Facebook following the results: "Thank you, District 88, for your prayers and support. I'm humbled and grateful for the opportunity to serve you at the State House."
Hightower wrote on X: "While the outcome was not the one we hoped for, I am so proud of our efforts and grateful to the people of District 88. To everyone who talked to their neighbors, knocked on doors, made phone calls, and donated to our campaign: thank you."
What Happens Next
Lastinger will serve until next November, but will need to run again in the midterm elections to secure a full term.
Update, 12/24/2025, 6:30 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update, 12/26/2025, 12:37 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from Sottile.
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