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Mark Sanford wins comeback nomination for Congress seat Mark Sanford wins comeback nomination for Congress seat
(about 2 hours later)
South Carolina's ex-governor has won the Republican Party nomination for a seat in Congress, less than two years after leaving the governor's office in disgrace in an adultery scandal. A shamed former South Carolina governor will face the sister of a TV political satirist in a special election for a vacant seat in the US Congress.
In a Tuesday run-off election, Mark Sanford defeated former Charleston County Council member Curtis Bostic. Mark Sanford, a Republican who quit two years ago after an extramarital affair, became his party's candidate on Tuesday night as he won a primary election.
In 2009, Mr Sanford admitted an affair with an Argentine woman but defied calls to resign before his term ended. In May, he will run against Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch, the sister of comedian Stephen Colbert.
He will face Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch in a May special election. Ms Colbert Busch is a businesswoman who has long aspired to political office.
Mr Sanford won 37% of the first vote on 19 March, ahead of 15 other Republican hopefuls. On Tuesday night, Mr Sanford comfortably saw off a rival in a run-off poll to become the Republican candidate.
His attempt to win election to the House of Representatives, where he previously served from 1995-2001, is his first foray back into public life since 2011, when he left the governor's office in disgrace. Results showed he had 57% of the vote compared with 43% for former Charleston City Council member Curtis Bostic.
In a speech at his victory party on Tuesday, Mr Sanford thanked volunteers and voters, saying that while he believes in "a God of second chances, at times voters are a little bit less forgiving".
'Vigorous campaign''Vigorous campaign'
Earlier, the former governor told reporters the results would indicate whether voters had moved beyond his past personal indiscretions. Mr Sanford was joined at his victory speech by the Argentine woman - now his fiancee - with whom he was having an extramarital affair in 2009.
"I think tonight's verdict will say a lot as to where people are or are not on that,'' he said after voting. "I suppose at some level, I will never completely move beyond that." He thanked volunteers and voters, saying that while he believes in "a God of second chances, at times voters are a little bit less forgiving".
His campaign to win election to the House of Representatives, where he previously served from 1995-2001, is his first foray back into public life since 2011, when he left the governor's office in disgrace.
The seat representing South Carolina's first congressional district, which covers the southern coast of the state, was left vacant after Congressman Tim Scott was appointed to a Senate seat by the state's Republican governor.The seat representing South Carolina's first congressional district, which covers the southern coast of the state, was left vacant after Congressman Tim Scott was appointed to a Senate seat by the state's Republican governor.
Mr Sanford, 52, represented the same district in Congress before he was elected governor in 2002 and re-elected in 2006.Mr Sanford, 52, represented the same district in Congress before he was elected governor in 2002 and re-elected in 2006.
In 2009, after disappearing for several days and telling his staff he was hiking the famed Appalachian Trail, the married Mr Sanford returned to the state to admit that he had been in Argentina with a mistress. In 2009, after disappearing for several days and telling his staff he was hiking the famed Appalachian Trail, the then-married Mr Sanford returned to the state to admit that he had been in Argentina with a mistress.
He was censured by the state legislature, but Mr Sanford defied numerous calls to step down before his term ended in January 2011.He was censured by the state legislature, but Mr Sanford defied numerous calls to step down before his term ended in January 2011.
He divorced his wife Jenny and is now engaged to the Argentine woman, ex-TV reporter Maria Belen Chapur.He divorced his wife Jenny and is now engaged to the Argentine woman, ex-TV reporter Maria Belen Chapur.
Ms Colbert Busch, whose main experience lies in business, is backed by her younger brother, Stephen, host of the popular satirical cable television show The Colbert Report. Ms Colbert Busch's younger brother is Stephen Colbert, host of the popular satirical cable television show The Colbert Report.
He has held a private fund-raising event on her behalf in Charleston. In a statement on Tuesday, she said she was looking forward to "a vigorous campaign".
In a statement on Tuesday, Ms Colbert Busch said she was looking forward to "a vigorous campaign".
"As a businesswoman, I will use my experience to cut waste in Washington, lower tax rates so small businesses can create jobs and do the people of South Carolina proud as their representative," she said."As a businesswoman, I will use my experience to cut waste in Washington, lower tax rates so small businesses can create jobs and do the people of South Carolina proud as their representative," she said.