So Many Special Elections!
South Carolina has been hit with an historical occurrence, one that this state has never seen before: three South Carolina General Assembly special election primaries will take place on the same day: October 21, 2025. So far, a total of four vacancies in the South Carolina House and Senate will be up for grabs in the middle of the 2025-26 legislative session.
We all love a milestone moment in state history, but this is one that can be confusing to the public. A flurry of campaign signs in an area could lead to the conclusion that all offices will be on the ballot on that day.
Because special elections (also known as “by-elections”) will be held for these four unexpectedly vacant positions over the next few months, here is a brief primer with all you need to know about these election contests.
What is a special election, and when are they held?
A special election is triggered when a vacancy in an elected position occurs in the middle of a legislative or executive term. There are expected and unexpected vacancies. For instance, every four years the President of the United States is up for reelection, and this vacancy in office is an expected one, which leads to a general election. However, if an elected official steps down from office outside of the normal election calendar, then their seat becomes unexpectedly vacated mid-term, and a special election is required to fill that elected office.
When a seat is vacated, South Carolina law states that special election partisan primaries must be held on the eleventh Tuesday after the seat is vacated.
If a candidate does not achieve greater than 50% of the vote in a primary election due to vote splitting between multiple candidates, the top two candidates advance to a runoff election two weeks after the primary election. With many candidates in the field for each of these four seats in play over the next few months, runoff elections are definitely possible. Then, the special general election is required to be held on the twentieth Tuesday after the seat is vacated.
State Senate District 12
South Carolina’s District 12 State Senator, Roger Nutt (elected 2024), resigned from his position in early August 2025 due to an Alzheimer diagnosis. Our prayers are with Senator Nutt and his family.
District 12 includes portions of Greenville and Spartanburg counties, including the towns of Greer, Duncan, Lyman, Wellford, and Reidville.
Who is running for SC Senate District 12?
Republican Primary:
- Hope Blackley – Announced September 4, 2025. Blackley has served as Spartanburg Clerk of Court and worked as Congressman William Timmons’ District Director.
- Justin Bradley – Announced September 3, 2025. Bradley currently works as a business attorney and has served on Spartanburg County Council.
- Lee Bright – Announced August 29, 2025. Bright previously served in the South Carolina Senate (2011-2016).
Democratic Primary:
- Sundra Proctor Smith – Announced September 6, 2025. Smith is a teacher at Chapman High School.
Important Dates:
- Primary: October 21, 2025
- Potential Runoff: November 4, 2025
- General Election: December 23, 2025
State House District 21
South Carolina’s District 21 experienced a turbulent political situation in a short period of time, after Representative Bobby Cox gave up his seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives to run for State Senator Roger Nutt’s position in District 12. However, after announcing his Senate candidacy, Cox suspended his campaign due to “unexpected work responsibilities and a demanding travel schedule.” So, Cox has left both his State Representative position and his campaign for State Senate, leaving his House seat open.
District 21 is in Greenville County, around the areas of southern Greer, Taylors, Roper Mountain, Sugar Creek, Pelham Road, and parts of Five Forks.
Who is running for SC House District 21?
Republican Primary:
- Reggy C Batson – Announced September 2, 2025. Batson is retired from 25+ years with the fire and law service.
- Dianne Mitchell – Announced August 29, 2025. Mitchell was a longtime educator and has been involved with the Greenville County Republican Women.
- Steve Nail – Announced September 2, 2025. Nail currently serves as Dean of the College of Business and Economics at Anderson University.
- Jack Stott – Announced September 3, 2025. Stott serves as Treasurer for the South Carolina Young Republicans.
Important Dates:
- Primary: Tuesday, October 21, 2025
- Potential Runoff: November 4, 2025
- General Election: December 23, 2025
State House District 88
District 88 of South Carolina experienced a shocking turn of events after Rep. RJ May was arrested in early June for distribution of child sexual abuse material. May recently pleaded guilty to some of these charges. After May’s arrest, he was suspended from the House without pay and then May resigned his House seat.
District 88 is in Lexington County, including the towns of Gaston, South Congaree, Pine Ridge, and parts of the town of Lexington.
Who is running for SC House District 88?
Republican Primary:
- Brian Duncan – Announced August 29, 2025. Since 2009, Duncan has served as a commissioner on the Lexington County Recreation & Aging Commission and is a military veteran.
- Lorelei Graye – Announced September 2, 2025. Graye is a mom and a businesswoman, with a background in finance.
- John Lastinger – Announced September 6, 2025. Lastinger serves as a pastor.
- Darren E Rogers Sr – Announced September 29, 2025. Rogers is a businessman, and since 2007, Rogers has served as the Board Chair of Lexington County Mental Health Board.
Democratic Primary:
- J Chuck Hightower – Announced September 5, 2026. In 2007, Hightower retired from the United States Army as a Colonel.
Important Dates:
- Primary: Tuesday, October 21, 2025
- Potential Runoff: November 4, 2025
- General Election: December 23, 2025
State House District 98
District 98 of South Carolina was left open after Representative Chris Murphy submitted his “irrevocable resignation” due to work constraints and conflicts. First elected in 2010, Representative Murphy previously served on Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and on the Ways and Means Committee.
District 98 sits within Dorchester County, including Ashborough, Oakbrook, Oakmont, Iron Gate, Old Fort Estates, Waters Edge, King’s Grant, and Coosaw Preserve precincts.
Who is running for SC House District 88?
Republican Primary:
- Greg Ford – Announced September 9, 2025. Ford is an Air Force veteran and is currently finishing up his Doctor of Education degree in Leadership at Charleston Southern University.
- Brian Hill – Announced September 5, 2025. Hill has over 40 years of experience in the Maritime industry and is a business owner.
- David Johnson – Announced September 10, 2025. Johnson is an attorney and real estate broker.
Democratic Primary:
- Damian Daly – Announced September 11, 2025. Daly is a frequent candidate in Lowcountry State House seats.
- Stephen Kohn – Announced September 5, 2025. Kohn is an Air Force veteran and currently a real estate broker.
- Sonja Ogletree Satani – Announced September 5, 2025. Satani is an Air Force veteran and currently works as a professor at ECPI University.
Important Dates:
- Primary: November 4, 2025
- Potential Runoff: November 18, 2025
- General Election: January 6, 2026
With so many special election days, the result can be a confused electorate and low turnout. In our 2025-26 Palmetto Freedom Agenda, Palmetto Promise has called for standardized election days and a clear local election calendar that voters can depend upon.
Legislation filed by Senators Campsen (R-Charleston) and Zell (R-Sumter) (S.38) would establish change South Carolina special election requirements to give election officials more flexibility in scheduling elections and to consolidate multiple special elections onto standard election days.
S.38 requires all special primary elections to be held on the closest standard date following the eleventh Tuesday after the vacancy, with the general special election on the next standard election day after the primary. Those standard days would be the fourth Tuesday in January, the first Tuesday after the first Monday in April, the second Tuesday in June (in even numbered years), the fourth Tuesday in August, and the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Not only would this make election scheduling easier for officials, but it also would save taxpayer dollars with fewer days of paying poll workers and administrators. And the best thing of all is that South Carolina voters could better rely on what days they need to go to the polls.
S.38 passed the South Carolina Senate unanimously in February 2025, but thus far has not advanced in the House of Representatives. We hope the legislation will be scheduled for a hearing in the House in 2026. South Carolina citizens deserve election dates that are predictable and elections that are as cost-efficient as possible.
