Mark Sanford makes a last-minute bid to return to Congress — again — in South Carolina

Associated Press ^ | March 30th, 2026 | Meg Kinnard and Jeffrey Collins

[buckalfa]

t today Texas school shooting Charlie Kirk highway vetoed Mary Beth Hurt dies at 79 Politics Mark Sanford makes a last-minute bid to return to Congress — again — in South Carolina Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford speaks during a news conference in front of the Statehouse, Nov. 12, 2019, in Concord, N.H. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File) Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford speaks during a news conference in front of the Statehouse, Nov. 12, 2019, in Concord, N.H. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)

By MEG KINNARD and JEFFREY COLLINS Updated 5:14 PM EDT, March 30, 2026 Comments 11

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Mark Sanford, the former South Carolina congressman and governor whose political ascendency was stalled by a 2009 affair, wants to return to Congress — again.

An outsider with almost no name recognition when he launched his first congressional campaign for the 1994 contest, Sanford — a real estate investor — navigated a primary for the open seat, finishing second before winning the runoff. He served for six years before his outside run at governor, again pushing his way through a crowded primary, then knocking off the last Democrat to hold the office.

Just hours ahead of the deadline to do so, Sanford filed candidacy paperwork with state officials on Monday to run in the June 9 GOP primary for South Carolina’s 1st District seat, which he has held twice before.

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TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: South Carolina
KEYWORDS: sabfird; sotgcarolina

[buckalfa]

He's back! Mark "Appalachian Trail" Sanford has filed to run in the GOP primary to fill the House seat being vacated by Nancy Mace. The GOP seems intent on losing bigly come Nivember.

[ansel12]

He had his defenders here for some reason.

[Georgia Girl 2]

He announced his candidacy from high atop the AT. 😏

[pissant]

is he still boinking the latina chick he gave up his lovely wife for?

[Apparatchik]

“The Love Gov” is back!

[Round Earther]

Rep. Mark Sanford (R) Appalachian Trail

[House Atreides]

Well, redemption is possible. I don’t know enough to judge whether he has yet earned that. It’s I high bar.

[DesertRhino]

Why don’t people like him just check out and enjoy their millions, pork their secretary, or whatever.
WHY are they always determined to get into public office and get some kinda power?

[lee martell]

I had forgotten Mark is a republican. You would think his ex-wife and his four sons have already suffered enough embarrassment. That story was everywhere for weeks and weeks.

[CaptainK]

No. Of course their engagement was called off. The phrase too hot not to cool down applies. Fifteen year old hormonal teenage girls have nothing on this moony eyed drama queen. How much can a woman take of this slobbering fool? It had to be exhausting.

His press conference announcement that he had met his soulmate was one of the most embarrassing displays of a love sick man I have ever seen in my lifetime.

He did recover and went on to bang bat-s***-crazy Olivia Nuzzi, the one that had the recent affair with Robert Kennedy Jr.

[catnipman]

“Well, redemption is possible. I don’t know enough to judge whether he has yet earned that. “

once a lying scumbag politician, ALWAYS a lying scumbag politician ... there’s no such thing as political redemption for scumbags like that ... period ...

[mass55th]

Goes missing for six days, then claims he was hiking the Appalachian Trail while he was actually in Argentina banging his Argentine journalist girlfriend. Did a search but no mention of who he's sharing a bed with these days.

There's plenty of ignoramuses out there who will vote for him.

[DIRTYSECRET]

I had high hopes for him once. Same with Kasich.

[mass55th]

"I had high hopes for him once. Same with Kasich."

But then they go and show people what asshats they really are.