COLUMBIA — Early returns in the race to take over former state Rep. RJ May's seat in the Statehouse indicated Republican John Lastinger appeared to be in position to win the GOP primary for House District 88 in Lexington County.

With 70 percent of precincts reporting, 1,034 people, or about 53 percent, voted for Lastinger while the remaining 47 percent supported Brian Duncan.

If the trend holds, Lastinger likely would face the lone Democratic candidate, Joseph “Chuck” Hightower, a retired Army colonel, in a special election to settle the seat in Lexington County. The seat leans heavily Republican.

House District 88 came open after May resigned in August, months after being charged with 10 federal counts tied to distributing child pornography. He pleaded guilty to five counts and

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