Mark Sanford announces run for Lindsey Graham’s Senate seat
Former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford has announced his candidacy for the Republican primary to replace the late Senator Lindsey Graham in the U.S. Senate.sanford joins several other candidates, including Graham’s sister and current caretaker, Darline Graham Nordone. Sanford, known for his conservative fiscal policies and past service as governor and congressman, highlighted concerns over national debt and government spending in his campaign, emphasizing the need to address the country’s financial future. He previously served in congress and as governor but lost his congressional seat in 2018 after Trump supported a primary challenger. Sanford’s campaign also touches on his record of fiscal responsibility and his stance against excessive government spending, especially in light of rising national debt and economic challenges. The special primary election, scheduled for August 11, will determine the Republican nominee to compete against Democrat Dr. Annie Andrews in the November election.
Former Gov. Mark Sanford (R-SC) has thrown his hat in the ring for South Carolina‘s special Republican primary election to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in the U.S. Senate.
Sanford joins a list of about half a dozen candidates, including Sen. Darline Graham Nordone (R-SC), Graham’s sister and the current caretaker appointed to fill his unexpired term, who have decided to run for the special primary election to fill Graham’s spot on the ballot. The former governor and U.S. congressman is a conservative fiscal hawk who drew the ire of President Donald Trump after challenging him on government spending in Trump’s first term.
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“Our ability to afford things, inflation, and the way people struggle to build a life are but symptoms of spending beyond our means as a country,” Sanford said in his announcement video. “We’re at a tipping point, and that’s why I’ve decided to run for the U.S. Senate.”
The longtime South Carolina politician emphasized the importance of fixing the national debt and putting “Washington’s finances back in order” in his campaign, touting his record as a governor and congressman of cutting spending.
“I’m worried for our children because for the first time, America is borrowing from the future faster than we’re building it,” Sanford said. “We’ll add about a trillion dollars to the national debt over the next 100 days, and if left unaddressed, that debt will crush our economy.”
Sanford served in Congress two separate times, representing South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, first for three terms at the turn of the millennium and then for three terms in the 2010s. He served as governor for two terms in between his congressional stints and was ultimately ousted from Congress when Trump backed his primary challenger in 2018.
Between his terms in public office, Sanford’s personal reputation took a hit in 2009, when he claimed to be hiking the Appalachian Trail but was actually visiting his mistress in Argentina.
His bid for Senate is not Sanford’s first attempt to get back to Capitol Hill this year. In March, Sanford launched a comeback bid for his former House seat as Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) had launched a bid for governor. However, Sanford dropped his campaign just 30 days after launching.
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After the late Sen. Graham died on July 11, Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Nordone to serve out the remainder of his unexpired term. As Graham had already won his primary for the regular 2026 election in June, the state is holding a special Republican primary on Aug. 11 to fill the nominee slot.
The winner of the special GOP primary will take on Democratic candidate Dr. Annie Andrews in November. Cook Political Report rates the race as solidly Republican.
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