Former South Carolina GOP Rep. Mark Sanford tossed his hat into the ring to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham on Thursday, joining an already crowded special primary.
Read more Congress told U.S. ill-prepared for China’s ‘unrestricted warfare’
“We’re at a tipping point, and that’s why I’ve decided to run for the U.S. Senate,” he said in his announcement video.
Mr. Sanford’s campaign bid is focused on the country’s national debt.
“I’m worried for our children because for the first time, America is borrowing from the future faster than we’re building it,” he 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. It’ll wipe out our savings, and it could even destroy our republic.”
The self-proclaimed fiscal conservative pointed to his political record in Congress and as governor.
Mr. Sanford, 66, who was South Carolina’s governor before representing the state for six terms in Congress, has a long political resume, including a one-time presidential bid in 2020.
He was first elected to Congress in 1994, the same time as Mr. Graham. He’s no stranger to special elections, jumping into the gubernatorial race after serving in Congress for three terms.
He came under fire for an extramarital affair while serving as governor. In 2009, Mr. Sanford vanished for six days, telling staff he was hiking the Appalachian Trail. He later admitted he was in Argentina visiting his mistress; the incident led to his highly publicized divorce.
Mr. Sanford later ran in 2013 for his old House seat in a special election and won, serving until 2019.
Read more Democrats’ primary shake-up becomes GOP ammunition in New Hampshire Senate race
“I’m here to ask that you join us in this effort to get Washington’s finances back in order so that indeed, our children might be able to live the American dream,” Mr. Sanford said.
He recently campaigned for his old seat after GOP Rep. Nancy Mace dropped her reelection bid to run instead for governor. After a month, he quit his campaign to launch a nonprofit focused on combating the national debt.
He established a Senate campaign committee last week, according to a Federal Election Commission filing.
The special Senate Republican primary will be held Aug. 11, one month after Mr. Graham’s unexpected death at age 71.
Sen. Darline Graham, the late senator’s sister who was appointed to fill the seat for the duration of her brother’s term, is running in the primary with an endorsement from President Trump.
Also running are Reps. Russell Fry and Ralph Norman and businessman Mark Lynch, who lost to Mr. Graham in the June primary.
Read more Trump wants SAVE America voting rules passed before lawmakers’ August recess
About the Author
