South Carolina will hold a Special Election later this year, following the resignation of three state lawmakers on Monday.
Among the three who have now resigned is former Republican Rep. RJ May, who resigned after being accused of sharing child sex abuse material hundreds of times online, including photographs and videos of toddlers and young children.
May, who had already been suspended prior to his resignation, represented South Carolina’s 88th District, which he had held since first being elected in 2020.
State Sen. Roger Nutt also announced his resignation, which will take effect in January, after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Nutt represents District 12, which includes parts of Spartanburg and Greenville counties.
In a letter addressing his diagnosis, Nutt said he initially saw a physician for what he thought were long-COVID symptoms.
“It is hard to describe how much I have enjoyed my time in the Senate. Serving in the Senate has been a dream come true, and I am so proud to be a small part of this great Body. God Bless the Senate, and God Bless the State of South Carolina,” Nutt wrote.
State Rep. Bobby Cox has also resigned from his House seat in hopes of winning Nutt’s now vacant Senate seat.
John Michael Catalano, the Director of External Affairs for the State Election Commission, said in an interview that he believes this is the first time three seats in South Carolina’s General Assembly have had a Special Election at the same time.
“We have not had three resignations from the General Assembly in one day before,” Catalano said. “Those counties are already very busy dealing with their own special elections that are going on in other offices, as well as local elections that will be occurring around the same time as these primaries.”
Catalano noted that the Special Elections will be concluded well before South Carolina’s Legislative Session begins in January, but said it is important constituents vote.
The South Carolina Election Commission has set the Primary Elections for all three races for October 21, while the Special General Election itself will be held December 23.
