Columbia Cartel Devastated by Special Election Losses

After a 2024 election cycle where they spent millions in attempts to defeat State House Freedom Caucus members and failed in every case, the GOP establishment geared up against conservatives in a string of fall special elections. They failed again, this time worse than the last time.

In senate district 12 of Greenville and Spartanburg counties, Fmr. Sen. Lee Bright faced his usual flurry of nasty attacks. The Christian conservative stalwart shocked many by defeating Fmr. Spartanburg County Clerk of Court Hope Blackley and Spartanburg County Councilman Justin Bradley, who was backed by the senate Republican Caucus and state Sen. Roger Nutt, who vacated the seat for health reasons. Bright breezed by with over 50% of the vote, avoiding a runoff.

In house district 21 in Greenville County, Freedom Caucus-aligned Dianne Mitchell was oddly attacked as being establishment as well as a right-wing radical. She won the November 4th runoff election over Steve Nail. This was a Freedom Caucus pickup after state Rep. Bobby Cox resigned.

In Lexington County’s District 88, the cartel was licking their chops after the seat became vacant following the resignation of state Rep. RJ May, who later pled guilty to child sexual abuse material charges. Pastor John Lastinger, who was backed by Freedom Caucus members but has not committed to joining the caucus, was attacked as if he was part of the Freedom Caucus nevertheless.

Lastinger defeated Brian Duncan in the November 4thrunoff. Duncan was backed by the state house establishment as well as US Rep. Joe Wilson, Attorney General Alan Wilson and Fmr. state Sen. Katrina Shealy.

In 2024, the statehouse RINO backed Palmetto Truth Project was the driver behind the barrage of attacks on conservative candidates. This year, it has been benched in favor of the S.C. Growth and Freedom Alliance.

Next up – District 98 in Dorchester County has a runoff election on November 18th. Longtime state Rep. and cartel leader Chris Murphy stepped down and made way for his preferred candidate, Brian Hill. Hill faces conservative activist Greg Ford. Ford has previously challenged Murphy.

David Johnston, who finished third in the initial election, was backed by local Freedom Caucus Chairman Jordan Pace and local conservative state Sen. Tom Fernandez. Johnston, Pace and Fernandez have all thrown their support to Ford. A Ford victory would result in a sweep of the Columbia establishment machine.

Will the cartel learn from their repeated losses? Absolutely not. The grift will keep going and the losses will pile up.

Some of you may be surprised to find out that our ruby red state is run by a bunch of corrupt liberals. Scorecards year after year prove it. The results from the recent elections show that we can have a South Carolina that represents our values. We must be engaged citizens.

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion. -James 3:16