South Carolina Republicans are celebrating a series of electoral victories, having secured three state legislative seats in an off-year election just days before a major holiday.
Former state senator Lee Bright emerged victorious in the District 12 seat, garnering 68 percent of the vote against a progressive write-in candidate, marking a significant win for the GOP.
According to RedState, Bright's return to the South Carolina Senate was confirmed by Tuesday's special election results, where he secured 68.43% of the vote, leaving 31.57% for write-in ballots. Bright, a staunch conservative, previously represented District 12 from 2009 to 2017 and decided to run again following Senator Roger Nutt's announcement of his Alzheimer's diagnosis in April. Nutt is set to vacate his position in January, paving the way for Bright's return.
The South Carolina Republican Party is asserting its success in mobilizing voters, a claim that holds some merit given the Democrats' efforts to rally their write-in candidates. Despite these efforts, Republicans not only held but also gained a seat in the state House of Representatives. Meanwhile, activist Dianne Mitchell emerged victorious in House District 21, overcoming a four-person primary, a runoff, and a recount to secure her position.
Mitchell, familiar with the Statehouse, played a pivotal role in advocating for the "Save Women's Sports" bill in 2022, which mandates that transgender students participate in sports teams corresponding to their birth-assigned gender. She also opposed the Scout Motors incentive package and a Republican-proposed income tax reform package that would have increased taxes for middle- and low-income earners.
Now retired, Mitchell has led several Republican organizations, including serving as president of the Greenville Republican Women's Club. She defeated write-in Democratic candidate Dexter Reaves, securing 70 percent of the vote according to unofficial tallies.
The grassroots South Carolina Freedom Caucus is celebrating the defeat of establishment Republican candidates, having supported both Mitchell and Pastor John Lastinger. Lastinger successfully retained the House District 88 seat, previously held by a disgraced Republican. In the Midlands region, conservatives maintained control of a seat vacated by RJ May III, a former Freedom Caucus leader who pleaded guilty to child pornography charges.
Lexington County pastor John Lastinger, backed by the Freedom Caucus, faced opposition from the GOP establishment in the race for S.C. House District 88. Lastinger was targeted with negative ads from the S.C. Growth and Freedom Alliance, a dark money group aligned with status quo supporters. Despite this, Lastinger triumphed over Democratic candidate Chuck Hightower, winning 62% to 38%.
The recent Tennessee District 7 representative race between Republican U.S. Rep Matt Epps and progressive Democrat Aftyn Behn highlights the relentless organization of the Democrat Party's leftist wing. Republicans must match this tenacity and enhance their organizational efforts, especially with the midterms approaching. The U.S. Senate's balance of power is at stake, and Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC) faces vulnerability from both Democrats and grassroots Republicans.
With a notable 10-point overperformance, there is potential to challenge Lindsey Graham in the 2026 U.S. Senate race. This grassroots triumph at the local level could have implications on the national stage, with attention now shifting to the upcoming 2026 elections.
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