SC-01 Republican nominee?
$134.1K
JUN 24, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleFormer U.S. Representative
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age66 years old (May 28, 1960)
GenderMale
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LocationSouth Carolina
BackgroundPolitician
EducationFurman University — B.A. (1983)
Notable personal detailsMarshall Clement "Mark" Sanford Jr. is an American politician who served as the 115th Governor of South Carolina (2003–2011) and as the U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District (1995–2001; 2013–2019). He earned a B.A. from Furman University and an M.B.A. from the University of Virginia. Sanford has also worked as a real estate investment firm owner and farmer, and served in the United States Air Force Reserve (2002–2011).
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Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports lower taxes, tax reform (including a flat-tax approach at times), reductions in government spending, and deficit reduction rather than raising taxes. Emphasizes pro-growth tax policy and skepticism about tax increases as a solution to fiscal problems.
Healthcare
The candidate has supported repealing key parts of the Affordable Care Act and backed the Republican American Health Care Act in 2017. He has advocated market-based reforms such as expanding portability, using health savings accounts, and reducing ACA mandates to increase choice and lower costs. His stated approach emphasizes private-market solutions rather than expanding government coverage programs.
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Immigration & Border
Supports strengthening border security including construction of a border wall and stricter enforcement while opposing extreme measures such as family separation; has also expressed support for increasing high-skilled immigration pathways. Overall his public statements emphasize enforcement and border control alongside limited reforms for legal immigration.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Mark Sanford has a history of supporting abortion restrictions while allowing some limits and regulations. As governor he signed laws requiring ultrasounds and waiting periods and his public statements describe a pro-restriction, pro-life orientation without advocating a total ban. His congressional record and interest-group scorecards classify him as opposed to expansive abortion access.
Climate & Energy
Acknowledges that climate change is real and has supported expanding nuclear, wind, solar, and other clean-energy options while favoring market-oriented or moderate policy responses rather than Green New Deal–style mandates. Has taken actions opposing offshore seismic testing/drilling off South Carolina’s coast and previously established a state advisory committee on climate and energy as governor.
Public Safety & Guns
Mark Sanford expresses support for existing gun-safety limitations while opposing broad new bans on semiautomatic/so-called “assault” rifles and emphasizes gun ownership rights and law enforcement. He has described semiautomatic rifles as not fundamentally different from other firearms and has noted that handgun violence is a larger source of non-suicide gun deaths.
News
Mark Sanford recently ended his congressional campaign for South Carolina’s 1st District and said he will instead launch a nonprofit focused on the national debt. He said he plans to use remaining campaign funds for the new effort and appears to be stepping away from future runs for office. Before dropping out, he had entered a crowded Republican primary centered on debt and affordability.
Mark Sanford quits latest bid for Congress, says he'll set up nonprofit
Mark Sanford Quits Latest Bid for Congress | Newsmax.com
Mark Sanford Quits Latest Bid for Congress and Says He'll Set up a Debt-Focused Nonprofit Instead
Mark Sanford returns to South Carolina campaign trail
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements
- Fundraising