Mark Sanford Wins South Carolina Special Election, Pulling Off Huge Political Comeback

Former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford has won the special election for South Carolina's First District Congressional seat, defeating Democratic candidate Elizabeth Colbert Busch by a landslide, according to the AP.

The victory completes a major comeback for Sanford, whose political career was considered over after he was caught lying about an extramarital affair in 2009 and made the phrase "hiking the Appalachian Trail" a new euphemism for philandering.

Given Sanford's past, Democrats had high hopes of winning the deep-red South Carolina district. Sanford suffered several setbacks, including losing funding from the Republican National Congressional Committee after his ex-wife announced she was suing him for trespassing.

But recent polls showed Sanford gaining momentum, and finally passing Colbert Busch, the sister of comedian Stephen Colbert.

In the end, the race wasn't even close. With 71 percent of precincts reporting, Sanford led Colbert Busch 54 percent to 45 percent.