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Former Rep. Mark Sanford (R-SC), who previously had a controversial tenure as governor of South Carolina and challenged President Donald Trump for the 2020 presidential nomination, announced his comeback congressional bid on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Sanford continues to face political pushback over his June 2009 decision to leave the state for roughly a week to see his mistress in Argentina, which he lied about and instead said that he was hiking the Appalachian Trail. He did successfully return to Congress from 2013 to 2019, but lost the 2018 primary to Republican Katie Arrington.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m running for Congress because I believe our country is at a tipping point,\u201d he said, saying if the national debt is \u201cleft unaddressed, that debt will crush our economy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you believe as I do, I\u2019m asking you join us in this fight,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
He most recently made major headlines with unverified accusations that he had a relationship with journalist Olivia Nuzzi while she was covering his 2020 presidential bid, as she later left Vanity Fair as a result of that and possible improper ties with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.<\/p>\n
The seat is currently held by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), who is running for governor of South Carolina in a crowded Republican primary. The congressional district is rated \u201cSolid Republican\u201d by the Cook Political Report<\/a>.<\/p>\n Although it was known that he would enter the race since late last month, his announcement triggered some negative reactions on X.<\/p>\n \u201cAppalachian Trail is a thing because of you,\u201d conservative commentator Dana Loesch<\/a> wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cLaunching today of all days?\u201d CBS News Political Correspondent Caitlin Huey-Burns<\/a> tweeted, presumably a nod to Rep. Eric Swalwell\u2019s (D-CA) resignation on Tuesday over multiple sexual misconduct allegations, including two individuals accusing the Democrat of sexual assault. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) also resigned on Tuesday following an affair scandal involving a female staffer who later ended up committing suicide.<\/p>\n However, some individuals on Facebook<\/a> were more complimentary.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople look at the bad mistakes made not what the Governor has done for the state. This man can cut a budget in half. He will always always have my vote and I will always always have Marks back. Vote for the future people not the past,\u201d one user wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I still lived SC I would certainly vote for you. I lived in SC when you were Governor and thought you did an absolutely wonderful job,\u201d another individual posted.<\/p>\n His decision to challenge Trump in 2020, although he suspended his campaign before any primaries, centered around the national debt.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m suspending my race for the Presidency because impeachment has made my goal of making the debt, deficit, and spending issue a part of this presidential debate impossible right now,\u201d Sanford stated at the time, according to NBC News<\/a>.<\/p>\n The primary is on June 9.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n