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The former vice chairman of the South Carolina Freedom Caucus – who is reportedly staring down the business end of a federal child porn investigation – is now facing an electoral challenge.
State representative R.J. May III of West Columbia, S.C. is unopposed on the November 5, 2024 ballot. The Republican lawmaker – first elected in 2020 – was one of the top targets of the GOP establishment in the 2024 primary election.
But the status quo failed to take him out… or any Freedom Caucus members, for that matter.
Despite being targeted for defeat, May easily vanquished establishment challenger Lorelei Graye in the June 11, 2024 GOP primary election – drawing 68.2 percent of the vote. No Democrats filed for the seat. As a result, May’s name is the only one on the ballot in next month’s election to represent S.C. House District 88 (.pdf).
A lot has happened since May’s primary victory, however…
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As FITSNews exclusively reported, agents of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) special investigations unit (HSI) seized multiple devices while serving a warrant on May’s home on August 5, 2024. While details regarding the raid were not immediately available, our media outlet subsequently confirmed it was focused on allegations related to child sex abuse materials, or “CSAM” – more commonly known as child pornography.
May has gone radio silent in the aftermath of the allegations – which spawned rumors, speculation, conspiracy theories and political drama. So far, no charges have been filed in connection with the investigation into May.
To read our latest on the saga, click here…
This week, Lexington County native Brian Duncan announced his intention to challenge May as a write-in candidate – citing the incumbent’s failure to respond to the allegations against him. Duncan – a military veteran – ran for this seat in 2020, finishing fourth in a five-candidate field.
“It has now been 71 days since the raid, and RJ May has remained silent and absent from his duties in Lexington County,” Duncan’s announcement noted. “While he has not been charged in connection with any crime, and if eventually charged, he would be entitled to due process — his silence and abandonment of his position are deeply concerning. The nature of these accusations is abhorrent, standing in stark contrast to everything RJ May has publicly claimed to represent, as well as the values of our community. Even his Freedom Caucus colleagues, who are typically in lockstep with him as a founding member, have failed to come to his defense or speak out on the allegations.”
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“Our community deserves better than a politician who hides from accountability,” Duncan said. “We need someone who will stand up, speak the truth, and put the people first. That’s why I’m stepping up to provide voters with a real choice on November 5th.”
Duncan’s candidacy received an endorsement from outgoing state senator Katrina Shealy, who was defeated in the 2024 GOP primary.
“The people of District 88 deserve a representative who is present, accountable, and committed to the well-being of our community,” Shealy said. “Brian Duncan has the integrity and courage to step up when others have failed. We need him in the State House now more than ever.”
Write-in campaigns have rarely succeeded in the Palmetto State – at any level. However, they are not unprecedented.
In 1954, the late Strom Thurmond won a write-in campaign for the U.S. Senate – one of only three U.S. senators ever elected via this method. Thurmond went on to be elected to the Senate another eight times (twice as a Democrat and six times as a “Republican”).
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
Will Folks is the owner and founding editor of FITSNews. Prior to founding his own news outlet, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina, bass guitarist in an alternative rock band and bouncer at a Columbia, S.C. dive bar. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and eight children.
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7 comments
The allegations about RJ May have been suspicious from the beginning. This has earmarks of an attempt to control an election by smearing a candidate who has been a staunch “pro-freedom” force in our Legislature. I mean, what a great setup. You raid his home, leak allegations of connection to a highly infamous crime, then introduce your candidate. No charges. No official allegations. Just watch as the wind currents carry the suspicions from the pile of sh%t you stirred up and hope the voters buy it.
That Katrina Shealy is supporting Brian Duncan should make him a giant “no-go” on any thinking person’s list. She wants to keep her fingers in every political pie possible.
“IF” RJ May is guilty of something really bad, no doubt, the powers-that-be will charge him and try him.
Meanwhile, they have not. I would urge voters in his district to vote for him and let him continue fighting for you until such time as charges are, or are not, brought against him. Remember, in our system of justice, you are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty.
Setup all day.
I find it interesting that people think RJ May – an absolute insignificant speck in the grand scheme of things- would be the target of some grand conspiracy. To what? make him look bad? to what end?
Or does the most obvious answer make sense?
Observer is right on this one. To you maybe RJ appears to be an insignificant speck….
Please elaborate River? How is someone who is a local represtentive big enough to be targeted by the national government? Because he disagrees with conservatives in a state that is significantly conservative? Again, I ask, to what end? Or does a conspiracy sound better than the obvious truth?
How about that the Deep State or New World Order has pretty much complete control over the Federal Government and the governments of many states. “Problematic” states which either embrace individual liberty and/or embrace a semblance of it will necessarily need to be brought “into compliance”. Taking down or removing the more “problematic” people in those states will necessarily further the effort to bring those states into compliance.
Bottom line, RJ May is not a political enemy of the state. He is insignificant in the Federal Order of things. If a state investigation were launched perhaps some questions may arise, but not a federal investigation. Yes he is innocent until otherwise proven. However his silence in this matter, though doesn’t make him guilty, surely doesn’t do him any good either. Justice will prevail in the long run. Until then, I will write in for Brian Duncan. Not because someone tells me too or because of an endorsement that he has, but because I know he has integrity. I know he does have the citizens best interest at heart. Most importantly, he will always do what is right even when faced with an easier way out. For the conspiracy theorists, it’s really time to snap back to reality.