Mark Sanford vs. Stephen Colbert's sister: Political gold?

The disgraced former South Carolina governor and Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch will likely vie for a seat in Congress

South Carolina politics just got interesting.
(Image credit: Facebook.com/ColbertBuschForCongress, Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

House races are usually prime examples of the saying "all politics is local." A handful gain national prominence — in Minnesota, Rep. Michele Bachmann's near-loss in 2012, or the super-expensive Howard Berman–Brad Sherman intraparty grudge match in Southern California — but most of the races are between people whose names you don't know, arguing about issues you don't know or care about. Then there's South Carolina's 1st Congressional District.

The congressman representing the conservative Charleston-based district, Tim Scott (R), was sent to the Senate by Gov. Nikki Haley (R) to replace Jim DeMint (R), and Tuesday was the primary election. On the Republican side, former Gov. Mark Sanford — infamous for skipping the country during his term for a tryst with his Argentine mistress, telling his aides he was hiking the Appalachian Trail — earned by far the most votes: 37 percent in a 16-candidate race. Still, he faces an April 2 runoff election. On the Democratic side, Elizabeth Colbert Busch — a businesswoman and political novice most famous for being sister to star comedian Stephen Colbert — handily won the right to compete in the May 7 general election. (She pronounces her name COL-burt — watch the video below for the story.)

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.