Mark Sanford

Mark Sanford
Born	Marshall Clement Sanford Jr. (1960-05-28) May 28, 1960 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Author, politician
Years active	1995–2019
Known for	Governor of South Carolina (2003–2011); U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 1st congressional district (1995–2001, 2013–2019)

Marshall Clement "Mark" Sanford Jr. (born May 28, 1960) is an American author and politician who represented South Carolina's 1st congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2001 and again from 2013 to 2019. Additionally, he served as the 115th governor of South Carolina between 2003 and 2011. He is affiliated with the Republican Party.

Sanford’s initial election to Congress occurred in 1994, where he served South Carolina's 1st district until 2001. He then ran for governor in 2002, defeating Democratic incumbent Jim Hodges by securing 52% of the vote. He was re-elected in the 2006 contest against businessman Tommy Moore, winning with 55%. During his governorship, Sanford opposed the acceptance of $700 million in federal stimulus funds from the 2009 Recovery Act, but the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled that only the state legislature had authority over such decisions.

In June 2009, Sanford revealed an extramarital affair after being absent for nearly a week. He had misled his staff by claiming he was hiking the Appalachian Trail, while in reality, he was visiting his mistress in Argentina. This revelation resulted in censure by the South Carolina General Assembly and his resignation as chair of the Republican Governors Association, although he completed his term as governor.

Sanford reclaimed his former congressional seat by winning a special election and served until 2019, when he was defeated in a Republican primary. In September 2019, he announced a campaign for the Republican nomination but withdrew two months later.

Early life and family

Marshall Clement Sanford Jr. was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Marshall Clement Sanford, a specialist in cardiothoracic surgery, and Margaret Elise "Peggy" Pitz. Although his family was financially comfortable, they shared a bedroom to save on electricity costs. Prior to his final year of high school, Sanford relocated with his family to Coosaw Plantation near Beaufort, South Carolina. He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout within the Boy Scouts of America program.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business from Furman University in 1983 and later earned an MBA from the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia in 1988.

Sanford married Jenny Sullivan in November 1989; together they have four sons.

In 1992, he established Norton and Sanford, a company specializing in real estate leasing and brokerage services.

Elections

1994

Following incumbent Arthur Ravenel’s decision not to run for re-election in South Carolina's 1st Congressional District, Sanford entered the Republican primary in 1994 despite lacking political experience. In a crowded field, he placed second behind Van Hipp Jr., a former official under President Bush. Sanford prevailed in the runoff election and subsequently defeated Democrat Robert A. Barber Jr. with 66.3% of the vote in the general election.

1996–1998

During both the 1996 and 1998 elections, Sanford encountered no Democratic challengers. Instead, he secured decisive victories over Natural Law Party candidate Joseph Innella, winning by margins of approximately 96.36% to 3.55% in 1996 and 91% to 8.9% in 1998.

Tenure

During his time in Congress, Sanford was distinguished as one of the most fiscally conservative legislators by the Cato Institute and received recognition from both Citizens Against Government Waste and the National Taxpayers Union for his initiatives aimed at curbing government expenditures and reducing the national deficit. The American Conservative Union awarded him a lifetime score of 92.

Sanford was noted for adhering to his principles in voting, occasionally opposing legislation that had widespread backing, including a bill to protect Underground Railroad landmarks. He also rejected earmarked spending projects that benefited his own district, such as a 1997 defense appropriations measure that allocated funds for Charleston's harbor. Committed to the concept of a "citizen-legislator," he respected a self-imposed limit of three terms and chose not to run for reelection in 2000.

Committee assignments

• Committee on International Relations
• Committee on Government Reform
• Committee on Science
• Joint Economic Committee

2002 election

Shortly before declaring his candidacy for governor in 2002, Sanford enlisted in the Air Force Reserve. He won the Republican primary against Lieutenant Governor Bob Peeler and subsequently defeated the incumbent Democrat Jim Hodges in the general election with 53% of the vote to Hodges' 47%, becoming South Carolina’s 115th governor. Alongside Republican lieutenant governor Andre Bauer, Sanford helped establish full GOP control over state government for the first time since Reconstruction.

First term

Upon assuming office in 2003, Sanford underwent two weeks of training with the U.S. Air Force Reserve in Alabama. During this period, he did not delegate gubernatorial authority to Bauer, stating he would maintain communication and only transfer power if activated for duty.

Despite the Republican majority in the legislature, Sanford frequently encountered opposition from the South Carolina General Assembly. Legislative influence was concentrated among Senators Hugh Leatherman, Glenn F. McConnell, and House Speaker Bobby Harrell. In May 2004, the GOP-controlled House overrode 105 out of 106 budget vetoes issued by Sanford. The following day, Sanford protested excess spending by bringing live pigs into the House chamber.

In June 2006, Sanford vetoed the entire state budget, threatening a shutdown to enforce fiscal restraint. The legislature promptly overruled his veto during a special session, reinstating the original budget.

Sanford advocated for changes within South Carolina's public higher education system, criticizing its emphasis on research at the expense of undergraduate programs and proposing consolidation of courses to prevent tuition increases. When met with resistance from universities, he cautioned that those unwilling to cooperate might face privatization.

His initial term drew criticism; a 2005 Time magazine article argued that his budgetary conservatism hindered economic growth in the state. Approval ratings measured by Survey USA ranged between 47% and 55% throughout 2006.

2006 election

In the 2006 race, Sanford secured his party’s nomination on June 13 by capturing 65% of the vote against Oscar Lovelace, a family doctor based in Prosperity. During the November general election, he prevailed over Democratic state senator Tommy Moore with a 55% to 45% vote split. By the end of his initial term in the House, Sanford held a 55% approval rating.

On Election Day, Sanford encountered difficulties voting at his designated precinct because he did not have his voter registration card and had to obtain a replacement at a registration office. Although his driver’s license showed a Columbia address, he cast his ballot in Sullivan’s Island. He later indicated that this campaign would be the last one he pursued.

Second term

Sanford opposed the introduction of faith-based license plates in South Carolina, which were favored by conservative evangelical groups, and declined to sign the legislation authorizing them, expressing that genuine faith should be reflected through one’s actions rather than symbols. He also withheld his endorsement from the Base Load Review Act, legislation that subsequently played a role in South Carolina’s largest corporate failure known as the Nukegate scandal.

After the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the federal stimulus package) was enacted—a measure he strongly opposed—Sanford initially contemplated rejecting some of the stimulus funds allocated to South Carolina. This position attracted criticism from Democrats and moderate Republicans alike, particularly given the state’s 9.5% unemployment rate. Even California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger publicly offered to accept funds that other governors might decline.

On March 11, 2009, Sanford became the first governor in the United States to officially refuse a portion of federal stimulus money designated for South Carolina. However, he subsequently agreed to accept those funds on the condition that the state legislature would provide matching contributions aimed at reducing state debt.

Sanford endorsed Nikki Haley, a state legislator, as his preferred successor and actively supported her campaign.

2009 disappearance and extramarital affair

Between June 18 and June 24, 2009, Sanford’s location remained unknown to his family, South Carolina law enforcement officials, and the public, sparking extensive national media coverage. Lieutenant Governor André Bauer voiced concern over the absence of communication from Sanford’s staff during this interval.

Sanford had informed aides that he was hiking the Appalachian Trail but failed to answer numerous calls and did not contact his family on Father’s Day. Reporters later located him in Argentina, where he publicly admitted to an extramarital affair.

In interviews following his return, Sanford described meeting what he called his “soul mate” and acknowledged having crossed boundaries with other women throughout his 20-year marriage, albeit not as extensively. His mistress was identified as María Belén Chapur, a professional from Buenos Aires. The two met in 2001, but their intimate relationship began in 2008.

Months prior to Sanford’s disappearance, his wife had uncovered evidence of his infidelities; the couple had attended marriage counseling sessions and she requested a trial separation shortly before he vanished.

Sanford also disclosed that he sought counsel from The Family, a religious organization with which he became involved during his congressional service from 1995 to 2001.

Following these revelations, a Survey USA poll showed that 60% of South Carolinians believed Sanford should step down from office, while 34% supported him remaining as governor.

Impeachment proceedings

On August 25, state legislators Nathan Ballentine and Gary Simrill issued a warning to Sanford, indicating that the legislature intended to pursue impeachment should he refuse to step down. Ballentine, who was considered an ally, remarked that "the writing is on the wall," yet Sanford chose not to resign.

By August 28, The Washington Times revealed that Republican officials were preparing for a special legislative session focused on impeachment, with two bipartisan bills underway.

On October 23, 2009, two impeachment resolutions were introduced but were ultimately blocked by Democratic members. A month later, one resolution succeeded, and on November 24, an ad hoc committee commenced drafting articles of impeachment. At the same time, Sanford faced 37 charges filed by the Ethics Commission.

On December 3, the committee decided to dismiss most allegations, concluding they did not warrant "overturning an election." Subsequently, on December 9, the committee voted 6–1 against proceeding with impeachment, citing other legislative matters as priorities.

Censure

The South Carolina House Judiciary Committee unanimously agreed to censure Sanford on December 15, 2009. In January 2010, the full South Carolina House of Representatives ratified the censure resolution with a vote of 102–11.

Other fallout from scandal

Following the disclosure of his affair, Sanford stepped down as Chairman of the Republican Governors Association, with Mississippi governor Haley Barbour taking over. In a June 29 email addressed to his political action committee, Sanford asserted he had no plans to resign from his gubernatorial position.

After the affair became public knowledge, Sanford denied any misuse of public funds for personal reasons. Nevertheless, following a Freedom of Information Act inquiry, he reimbursed taxpayers for costs related to a trip to Argentina accompanied by his mistress. He admitted fault and agreed to cover the entire expense of that journey. In August 2009, reports emerged suggesting Sanford may have improperly used state aircraft for personal errands, including a flight to obtain a haircut.

Amid the scandal, Sanford’s wife, Jenny Sanford, left the South Carolina Governor’s Mansion with their four children and later filed for divorce in December 2009; their divorce was finalized in March 2010. The divorce agreement included provisions restricting Sanford from piloting aircraft near their children and referenced his habit of using a hydraulic excavator as a means to relax on their Coosaw plantation.

In August 2012, Sanford became engaged to Chapur; however, they ended their engagement in September 2014. That same month marked the beginning of mediation between Mark and Jenny Sanford over ongoing divorce-related disputes. Jenny Sanford petitioned for court orders requiring Sanford to undergo psychiatric assessment as well as parenting and anger management programs; however, the judge directed both parties into mediation within 30 days.

Veto record

Throughout his governorship from 2003 to 2011, Sanford issued vetoes on 278 bills. Of these vetoes, 213—accounting for 77%—were overridden by the legislature.

Sanford's Veto Record

Legislative Veto Action	Total	% of Total
Sustained	59	21%
Overridden	213	77%
Partial/Certain Items Sustained	6	2%
Total Vetoes	278	-

Hiatus from politics (2011–2012)

Upon completing his term as governor in January 2011, Sanford moved first to his family farm located in Beaufort County, South Carolina, and subsequently to a condominium in Charleston, South Carolina. He characterized this interval as a period of tranquility and spiritual reflection, embracing a blend of Buddhist and Christian philosophies that highlighted mindfulness and the commonality of human experience.

In October 2011, Sanford began working with Fox News Channel as a compensated political analyst.

2013 special election

In December 2012, Sanford announced his intention to seek his former congressional seat after Tim Scott’s appointment to the U.S. Senate. During his earlier service, Sanford had been identified as an ally of libertarian-leaning conservative Ron Paul.

Sanford entered the 2013 congressional race and quickly emerged as the leading candidate in a competitive Republican primary, largely due to his established name recognition. He secured victory in the Republican runoff against Curtis Bostic on April 2, 2013.

On April 17, 2013, the National Republican Congressional Committee withdrew its endorsement following news that Jenny Sanford had filed a trespassing complaint against him for entering her residence without permission, which violated their divorce terms. Sanford acknowledged visiting to watch the Super Bowl with his son but maintained he had attempted to notify Jenny beforehand. Some GOP officials criticized him for failing to disclose the complaint earlier.

Sanford earned endorsements from prominent figures such as FreedomWorks, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, House Speaker John Boehner, State Senator Tom Davis, former State Treasurer Thomas Ravenel, perennial candidate Ben Frasier, former U.S. Representative Ron Paul, and Senator Rand Paul. Subsequent endorsements included Senators Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham. Remarkably, adult entertainment publisher Larry Flynt also endorsed Sanford, commending his candidness regarding personal controversies.

On May 7, 2013, Sanford was elected to Congress with 54.04% of the vote, defeating economist Elizabeth Colbert Busch.

2014

Sanford ran unchallenged for re-election in 2014.

2016

In 2016, Sanford won the Republican nomination by defeating state representative Jenny Horne with 55.61% of the vote. He then secured re-election in the general election with 58.56%, overcoming Dimitri Cherry, who appeared on the Democratic, Working Families, and Green Party ballots due to South Carolina’s electoral fusion system. Other candidates collectively garnered approximately 4.6% of the vote.

2018

During the 2018 election cycle, President Donald Trump publicly criticized Sanford as "very unhelpful" and endorsed state representative Katie Arrington for the GOP nomination. Arrington defeated Sanford in the primary by a margin of 50.5% to 46.5%, making Sanford one of two incumbent Republicans to lose renomination that year.

Following this loss, The New York Times observed that despite Sanford’s conservative voting record, perceptions of disloyalty toward Trump overshadowed his political standing. In the general election, Democrat Joe Cunningham won an upset victory over Arrington. After leaving Congress, Sanford took on a role as a teaching fellow at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics.

Tenure

Sanford took the oath of office on May 15, 2013.

On June 5, 2014, Sanford introduced the TSA Office of Inspection Accountability Act of 2014 (H.R. 4803), which tasked the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General with evaluating TSA's designation of employees as law enforcement officers and mandated reclassification where appropriate. Sanford maintained that adjusting these classifications and corresponding salaries could reduce government expenditures by $17 million annually by better reflecting actual job responsibilities.

On September 12, 2014, Sanford shared a lengthy statement on his Facebook page concerning legal conflicts with Jenny Sanford over child custody arrangements; this post was longer than all his speeches in the House combined throughout that year.

Although he initially backed Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential race, Sanford rapidly emerged as one of the administration’s most outspoken congressional critics. He voiced strong opposition to Trump’s political approach and frequent inaccuracies. In a February 2017 interview, Sanford characterized Trump as "the antithesis" of his own political principles. Data indicated that Sanford aligned with Trump’s positions less often than most Republican members of the House.

Sanford opposed the 2017 executive order limiting Muslim immigration, describing its rollout as "bizarre." He also co-signed a letter urging Congress to examine Trump's tax returns in a closed-door session. Nevertheless, during his 2018 campaign for re-election, Sanford emphasized that he voted in line with Trump "89 percent of the time" and endorsed the president’s proposal for a US-Mexico border wall.

On May 4, 2017, Sanford cast his vote in favor of repealing the Affordable Care Act and supporting the American Health Care Act.

Committee assignments

• Committee on the Budget
• Committee on Homeland Security
  • Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications
  • Subcommittee on Transportation Security
• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
  • Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
  • Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management
  • Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment

Caucus memberships

• Liberty Caucus
• Freedom Caucus
• Republican Study Committee
• United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus
• Climate Solutions Caucus

2008

Prior to the 2006 midterm elections, Sanford was considered a possible contender for the presidency but chose not to run, declaring that his current campaign for re-election would be his final one. Following Super Tuesday in 2008, he was mentioned as a potential vice-presidential pick for the presumptive Republican nominee John McCain. In March 2008, Sanford publicly endorsed McCain and encouraged conservatives to rally behind him.

On January 11, 2008, Sanford authored an op-ed in The State newspaper expressing that he would not support Barack Obama but acknowledged the historic nature of Obama's early achievements in South Carolina. In an interview with CNN on January 18, Sanford addressed issues of race relations within South Carolina and remarked on the ongoing debate surrounding the Confederate flag, noting that most residents preferred to steer clear of this controversy.

Sanford faced criticism after a July 13, 2008 CNN interview in which he had difficulty distinguishing between McCain’s economic policies and those of President George W. Bush, even joking about "drawing a blank" during their discussion.

2012

As early as January 2008, speculation emerged regarding Sanford's potential candidacy for the presidency, with various online advocacy groups forming on social media sites such as Facebook.

At that stage, Sanford neither confirmed nor denied intentions to enter the race. His public stature increased notably after his election as Chairman of the Republican Governors Association in November 2008, and in February 2009, Michael S. Steele, then-chairman of the Republican Party, identified him as one of four GOP "rising stars". Additionally, he secured early endorsement from the Republican Liberty Caucus.

On February 22, 2009, Sanford refrained from ruling out a presidential run but indicated no immediate plans to campaign.

Nonetheless, the disclosure of his extramarital affair in June 2009 severely undermined his prospects as a credible contender for the 2012 nomination.

By January 4, 2010, Sanford publicly announced he would not pursue a presidential campaign and intended to transition into private sector work upon completing his gubernatorial term.

2016

Mark Sanford chose not to support Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential race.

2020 presidential campaign

On July 16, 2019, Sanford announced his intention to consider a bid against Trump for the 2020 presidency, highlighting his worries about the country's fiscal condition. Although he initially aimed to make a decision by September 2, 2019, the timeline was postponed due to Hurricane Dorian. He officially declared his candidacy for the Republican primary on Fox News Sunday on September 8, 2019. However, Sanford ended his campaign on November 12, 2019.

Electoral history

Election outcomes for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District, 1994–2014

Year	Democratic	Votes	Pct	Republican	Votes	Pct	3rd party	Party	Votes	Pct
1994	Robert A. Barber Jr.	32%	Mark Sanford	66%	Libertarian |1,836 |1%
1996	|	Mark Sanford	96%	Natural Law |5,105 |4%
1998	|	Mark Sanford	91%	Natural Law |11,586 |9%
2013 (special)	Elizabeth Colbert-Busch	45.2%	Mark Sanford	54.0%	Green Party |690 |0.5%
2014	|	Mark Sanford	93.4%	- |8,423 |6.6%

• Notes on write-in votes: 63 in 1994, 71 in 1998, and 383 in 2013.

Bibliography

• Sanford, Mark (August 24, 2021). Two Roads Diverged A Second Chance for the Republican Party, the Conservative Movement, the Nation― and Ourselves. Vertel Publishing. .

External links

• 2003 Mark Sanford Swearing in Ceremony on South Carolina Educational Television

Statements

• Open Session On The Western Hemisphere Today: A Roundtable Discussion, Hearing Before The Subcommittee On The Western Hemisphere Of The Committee On International Relations, House Of Representatives, One Hundred Fifth Congress, First Session, March 12, 1997
• The Caribbean: An Overview Hearing Before The Subcommittee On The Western Hemisphere Of The Committee On International Relations House Of Representatives One Hundred Fifth Congress First Session May 14, 1997
• The President's Foreign Assistance Budget Request For Fiscal Year 1999 Hearing Before The Committee On International Relations House Of Representatives One Hundred Fifth Congress Second Session March 5, 1998
• Latin America And The Caribbean: An Update And Summary Of The Summit Of The Americas Hearing Before The Subcommittee On The Western Hemisphere Of The Committee On International Relations House Of Representatives One Hundred Fifth Congress Second Session May 6, 1998
• Franchise Fee Calculations Of Fort Sumter Tours, Inc. Oversight Hearing Before The Subcommittee On National Parks And Public Lands Of The Committee On Resources House Of Representatives One Hundred Sixth Congress First Session July 1, 1999

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