Mark Sanford Launches Comeback Bid for Congress

Former governor, congressman, would-be Appalachian hiker is back on the ballot

Mar. 30, 2026 at 10:24pm

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A cinematic painting of a solitary politician standing alone in a dimly lit government office, with warm sunlight casting deep shadows across the room, creating a pensive, nostalgic mood.As a former politician attempts a political comeback, the shadows of past scandals loom large over his return to the public stage.

Mark Sanford, the former governor and congressman of South Carolina, has filed to run for Congress again, aiming to reclaim the Charleston-area House seat he lost in 2018. Sanford, a 64-year-old Republican, is jumping into a crowded field opened by Rep. Nancy Mace's decision to run for governor.

Why it matters

Sanford's return to politics is notable given his past controversies, including his 2009 disappearance to see his mistress in Argentina, initially explained as "hiking the Appalachian Trail." He also lost his House seat in 2018 after a public feud with former President Trump, who backed Sanford's primary opponent.

The details

Sanford has about $1.3 million left from earlier campaigns and is arguing that voters are now more attuned to the fiscal warnings he's sounded for years. He reenters politics after his quixotic 2020 GOP presidential bid, which he ran largely to spotlight the nation's balance sheet.

  • Sanford filed on Monday, the last possible day to jump into the race.

The players

Mark Sanford

A former governor and congressman of South Carolina who is launching a comeback bid for Congress.

Nancy Mace

The current U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 1st congressional district, who is running for governor.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States, who backed Sanford's primary opponent in 2018, leading to Sanford's loss of his House seat.

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What they’re saying

“People have been telling me it's time to get off the bleachers.”

— Mark Sanford

The takeaway

Sanford's comeback bid highlights the enduring political impact of his past scandals and feuds, as he seeks to reclaim a House seat he lost amid his public clashes with Trump. His return to the ballot will test whether voters are willing to look past his controversies and embrace his fiscal warnings.