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SC · Officeholder

John Lastinger

RState Representative · District 88

On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: South Carolina House District 88

Biography

John Lastinger is a Republican state representative from Lexington County who has represented South Carolina House District 88 since December 2025 and is seeking election to a full term on November 3, 2026.[1][2] A pastor, Lastinger has led EDGE Church since 1978 and serves on the House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee.[1]

Lastinger earned an associate degree from Midlands Technical College in 1974 and another from Gloryland Bible Institute in 1978.[1] He has been pastor of EDGE Church since 1978, founded Covenant Christian Academy & Childcare in 1984 (now EDGE Christian Academy), and owned and operated WQXL Christian Radio during the 1980s and 1990s.[1]

Lastinger was elected on December 23, 2025, to fill the unexpired term of R. J. May III, who resigned.[1] In the November 3 general election he faces Democrat Jeremy Jones.[2]

  1. 1.Representative John T. Lastinger, Jr. - Member Biography · South Carolina Legislative Services Agency Official record
  2. 2.John Lastinger - Ballotpedia · Ballotpedia Reference

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.

South Carolina House District 88

John Lastinger is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for South Carolina House District 88 as R. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.

Ballotpedia ↗

Other candidates for this seat

Jeremy JonesCandidateDSouth Carolina House District 88South Carolina

Votes by issue

Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Republicans voted. How topics are assigned

  • Jobs & cost of living52 with · 33 against85 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      Hemp-derived ingestible

      On the version voted Mar 19, 2026: Sets up licensing and regulation of hemp-derived beverages and chewables under the Department of Revenue, with a 10 milligram per serving THC cap, a minimum sales age of 21, and excise taxes.

      Apr 21, 2026 · Failed 46–61 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • No

      Budget

      On the version voted Aug 11, 2026: Appropriates money and provides revenues for the ordinary expenses of state government for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, regulates how those funds are spent, and sets other provisions for operating state government that year.

      May 6, 2026 · Failed 24–50 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • No

      Physician Noncompete Contract Prohibition

      On the version voted Mar 26, 2026: Voids noncompete clauses in physician contracts that limit where or how long a doctor may practice or bar treating former patients, while letting employers recoup certain bonuses and relocation costs from doctors who leave within three years; applies to new and renewed contracts.

      Mar 25, 2026 · Failed 48–62 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    All jobs & cost of living votes
  • Rights & public safety30 with · 5 against35 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      Redistricting, Congressional Districts

      Replaces the congressional district map with new boundaries for the seven U.S. House districts (by county, voting district and census block), repeals the current district statute, and holds a special U.S. House primary on August 18, 2026 that replaces the June 9 results.

      May 20, 2026 · Passed 74–37 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      South Carolina Student Physical Privacy Act

      Jan 28, 2026 · Passed 83–32 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Immigration

      Requires law enforcement agencies that run jails and other correctional facilities to enter written 287(g) agreements with federal immigration agencies (or request one annually) unless impractical, bars school resource officers from participating, and has SLED provide training.

      Apr 1, 2026 · Passed 85–30 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    All rights & public safety votes
  • Education & families22 with · 8 against30 votes

    Most contested

    All education & families votes
  • Health & care18 with · 3 against21 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      Hemp-derived ingestible

      On the version voted Mar 19, 2026: Sets up licensing and regulation of hemp-derived beverages and chewables under the Department of Revenue, with a 10 milligram per serving THC cap, a minimum sales age of 21, and excise taxes.

      Apr 21, 2026 · Failed 46–61 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Abortion-Inducing Drugs

      On the version voted Feb 5, 2026: Makes it a felony, punishable by up to five years, to provide a pregnant woman abortion-inducing drugs to cause an abortion, with exceptions for lawful medical care; makes mifepristone and misoprostol controlled substances, bars possession without a prescription except by pregnant women, and allows civil suits.

      Feb 4, 2026 · Passed 81–31 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • No

      Physician Noncompete Contract Prohibition

      On the version voted Mar 26, 2026: Voids noncompete clauses in physician contracts that limit where or how long a doctor may practice or bar treating former patients, while letting employers recoup certain bonuses and relocation costs from doctors who leave within three years; applies to new and renewed contracts.

      Mar 25, 2026 · Failed 48–62 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    All health & care votes
  • Climate & energy8 with · 2 against10 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      Fishing

      On the version voted May 5, 2026: Bans fishing at any time on the J. Foster Jeffords Causeway across Forest Lake on Knollwood Road in Florence County. Violators face a fine of up to $25 or up to 30 days in jail.

      Apr 14, 2026 · Passed 87–20 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • No

      Energy

      Apr 29, 2026 · Passed 88–20 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • No

      Renewable Natural Gas

      May 13, 2026 · Passed 95–16 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    All climate & energy votes
  • Technology & privacy2 with · 2 against4 votes

    Most contested

    All technology & privacy votes
  • Transportation4 with · 0 against4 votes

    Most contested

    All transportation votes
  • Foreign affairs & defense2 with · 1 against3 votes

    Most contested

    All foreign affairs & defense votes
  • Housing & rent1 with · 1 against2 votes

    Most contested

    • No

      Evictions

      Requires eviction filings and records to be removed from public court indexes and publicly accessible files seven years after the case's final disposition or filing if no later filing is recorded, starting January 1, 2027.

      May 13, 2026 · Passed 81–28 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    All housing & rent votes

Where they stood out

Voted against most of their party on 17 of 211 party-divided votes on file.

Most often on: Health & care (12), Jobs & cost of living (9), Education & families (2)

  • Hemp-derived ingestible

    What it does: On the version voted Mar 19, 2026: Sets up licensing and regulation of hemp-derived beverages and chewables under the Department of Revenue, with a 10 milligram per serving THC cap, a minimum sales age of 21, and exci…

    Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 28–1, Republicans 18–60

    Apr 21, 2026Official record ↗

  • Income tax

    What it does: On the version voted May 7, 2025: Sets individual income tax rates at 1.99% on the first $30,000 and 5.39% above, adds a state deduction in place of the federal standard deduction, and cuts rates further when projecte…

    Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 5–27, Republicans 66–22

    Mar 10, 2026Official record ↗

  • School volunteer chaplains and historical displays

    Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 9–19, Republicans 67–19

    Feb 25, 2026Official record ↗

  • Hemp-derived ingestible

    What it does: On the version voted Mar 19, 2026: Sets up licensing and regulation of hemp-derived beverages and chewables under the Department of Revenue, with a 10 milligram per serving THC cap, a minimum sales age of 21, and exci…

    Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 1–29, Republicans 65–17

    Apr 22, 2026Official record ↗

  • Hemp-derived ingestible

    What it does: On the version voted Mar 19, 2026: Sets up licensing and regulation of hemp-derived beverages and chewables under the Department of Revenue, with a 10 milligram per serving THC cap, a minimum sales age of 21, and exci…

    Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–30, Republicans 54–24

    Apr 21, 2026Official record ↗

How this is counted

Their votes on the most contested roll calls

The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank

See all their split votes

Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.

H 3305 · SC HOUSE

Supplemental Appropriations

NoVOTED

Motion: Invoke the Previous Question (Cloture)

Passed 94–18·Procedural·Aug 25, 2026Roll call ↗
H 3305 · SC HOUSE

Supplemental Appropriations

NoVOTED

Motion: Table Amendment 1A Amendment number 1A

Passed 95–17·Procedural·Aug 25, 2026Roll call ↗
H 3305 · SC HOUSE

Supplemental Appropriations

NoVOTED

Motion: Table Amendment 2A Amendment number 2A

Passed 78–21·Procedural·Aug 25, 2026Roll call ↗
H 3305 · SC HOUSE

Supplemental Appropriations

YesVOTED

Motion: Table Motion to Waive Rule 4.8

Failed 15–96·Procedural·Aug 25, 2026Roll call ↗
H 3305 · SC HOUSE

Supplemental Appropriations

NoVOTED

Motion: Waive Rule 4.8

Passed 95–15·Substantive·Aug 25, 2026Roll call ↗
H 3305 · SC HOUSE

Supplemental Appropriations

NoVOTED

Motion: Concur in Senate Amendments

Passed 96–15·Substantive·Aug 25, 2026Roll call ↗
H 5126 · SC HOUSE

Budget

YesVOTED

Motion: Proviso to 117.220

Appropriates money and provides revenues for the ordinary expenses of state government for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, regulates how those funds are spent, and sets other provisions for operating state government that year.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 105–10·Substantive·Aug 11, 2026Roll call ↗
H 5126 · SC HOUSE

Budget

NoVOTED

Motion: Adopt Conference Report

Appropriates money and provides revenues for the ordinary expenses of state government for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, regulates how those funds are spent, and sets other provisions for operating state government that year.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 100–17·Substantive·Aug 11, 2026Roll call ↗
H 4042 · SC HOUSE

Ivermectin

NoVOTED

Motion: Table Motion to Reconsider

On the version voted Jun 25, 2026: Allows adults 18 and older to buy FDA-approved human-use ivermectin over the counter at pharmacies without a prescription, kept behind the counter, with Board of Pharmacy screening and information rules and dispensing bans when contraindications exist.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Failed 43–51·Procedural·Aug 11, 2026Roll call ↗
H 3558 · SC HOUSE

Commissioners to Article V Convention

YesVOTED

Motion: Override Veto by the Governor

On the version voted Mar 5, 2025: Sets rules for commissioners who represent South Carolina at an Article V convention: the General Assembly names them in joint session, they must meet residency and other qualifications and take an oath, follow written instructions, and may be recalled.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 74–27·Substantive·Jun 25, 2026Roll call ↗

Showing 10 of 402 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.