Mark Sanford Wins South Carolina GOP House Nomination

Disgraced former governor will face Stephen Colbert's sister

Former South Carolina governor Mark Sanford has cleared another hurdle in his bid for a political comeback, winning the Republican nomination for a vacant seat in the House of Representatives.

Sanford's political career was derailed four years ago when he disappeared from the state and later admitted to an extramarital affair with an Argentinian woman – they are now engaged.

With 96% of precincts reporting, Sanford had about 57% of the primary vote to 43% for Curtis Bostic, a former Charleston county council member. The candidates were vying on Tuesday in a Republican runoff in the 1st Congressional District of South Carolina, which covers the south coast.

Sanford will face the Democratic candidate, Elizabeth Colbert Busch, in a May special election. She is the sister of the TV political satirist Stephen Colbert.