Former SC Gov. Mark Sanford ends his Lowcountry congressional campaign
About one month after returning to the campaign trail, former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford is making another political exit.
Sanford is dropping out of the race for the Republican nomination in the 1st Congressional District and plans to launch a nonprofit focusing on the nation’s debt and deficit. The news was first reported by the Post and Courier.
“After a lot of thought, I’ve concluded that the most effective way I can contribute right now is not by seeking office, but by helping build a broader movement focused on the country’s financial future,” Sanford said in a news release. “The trajectory of debt and deficits isn’t a Republican problem or a Democrat problem — it’s an American problem. And it’s one that demands sustained grassroots pressure for change to occur.”
With U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace not running for reelection as she runs for governor, Sanford joined a crowded Republican field in the Lowcountry district.
He entered the race with high name recognition and more than $1.3 million leftover from previous campaigns. He also ended the first quarter of the year with the most cash on hand, which would have allowed him to be a formidable candidate if he spent the cash to gain support.
Sanford served three terms in Congress before being elected governor. After serving two terms as governor, Sanford made a political comeback in 2013 when he won a special election. He served his second stint in Congress before losing in the 2018 primary to Katie Arrington. He ran for president in the 2020 cycle, but never mounted a serious challenge to President Donald Trump.
