Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford speaks with a vendor at the Mount Pleasant Farmers Market in Mount Pleasant, S.C., Tuesday, May 7, 2013. He faces Elizabeth Colbert Busch, the sister of political satirist Stephen Colbert, and Green Party candidate Eugene Platt, in Tuesday's balloting. Credit: AP
CHARLESTON, S.C. (TheBlaze/AP) -- Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has redeemed a political career sidelined by scandal by winning his old congressional seat.
Sanford defeated Elizabeth Colbert Busch Tuesday in the state's 1st Congressional District. Colbert Busch is the sister of political satirist Stephen Colbert. With 71 percent of precincts reporting, Sanford has 54 percent of the vote.
CHARLESTON, SC - MAY 7: Elizabeth Colbert Busch smiles after casting her vote in a special election runoff with former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford for a seat in the 1st Congressional District May 7, 2013 in Charleston, South Carolina. Voters are deciding between Sanford, a Republican seeking a political comeback after an extramarital affair and Busch, a Democratic businesswoman and the sister of comedian of Stephen Colbert. Credit: Getty Images
At one time, Sanford was mentioned as a possible GOP presidential contender.
But his career unraveled when, as governor four years ago, he disappeared for five days, telling his staff he was hiking the Appalachian Trail. He returned to admit he had been in Argentina with his mistress. Sanford later paid a $70,000 ethics fine, the largest in state history.
Sanford has never lost a political race.
Featured image via Getty
