WASHINGTON — Notorious adulterer former South Carolina Rep. Mark Sanford is back on the trail… and it isn’t the Appalachian Trail.
The disgraced Republican pol launched his congressional comeback Tuesday — on the same day alleged sex pests Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales resigned from Congress in disgrace.
Sanford, 65, is infamous for telling his staffers in June 2009 that he was going on an excursion on the Appalachian Trail, when in reality he trekked down to Argentina to have an affair with his mistress, Maria Belén Chapur.
At the time, Sanford was serving as governor of South Carolina and went for close to six days without answering calls from his staff — all while his family had no idea where he was, including on Father’s Day.
But a local reporter caught him at the airport on his return trip, and Sanford publicly copped to the extramarital affair.
Sanford also admitted he “crossed the lines” with other women during his marriage.
He then served out his term and later served in Congress from 2013 to 2019, before his failed 2020 presidential bid.
Late last year, Sanford was thrust into the national spotlight again after Olivia Nuzzi’s ex-fiancé, Ryan Lizza, alleged that the two slept together in 2020. Sanford is 32 years older than Nuzzi, 33.
On Tuesday, with a leafy background that some chided bore a resemblance to parts of the Appalachian Trail, Sanford kicked off his congressional bid — hoping that voters have shorter memories than his “hiking trip.”
“I’m Mark Sanford. I’m a dad. I’m a soon-to-be grandfather,” Sanford said. “I’m a businessman who got involved in politics years ago and became both Gov. of S.C. & Congressman for the Lowcountry.
“I’m running for Congress because I believe our nation is at a financial tipping point.”
The campaign launch video was dropped just hours after Swalwell and Gonzales both resigned from Congress over accusations that they had or pursued sex with subordinates.
Swalwell is also facing a rape accusation and has denied the allegations.
Both men were facing the threat of expulsion due to their sickening alleged behavior.
Rumors had been swirling for days that Sanford was plotting a comeback bid for his old congressional seat in South Carolina’s 1st District, held by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), who is vying for governor.
But netizens were blown away by the timing of Sanford’s campaign launch, given the ongoing reckoning in Congress. Sanford’s X account had been dormant since 2021.
“Dude saw Swalwell and Gonzalez resigning and thought, ‘There’s a shortage of skeezy creeps in Congress, now’s my chance,'” X user Varad Mehta jabbed.
Dude saw Swalwell and Gonzalez resigning and thought, "There's a shortage of skeezy creeps in Congress, now's my chance." https://t.co/DSQprGJwA0
“[H]e is still hiking the appalachian trail,” another user chided.
he is still hiking the appalachian trail https://t.co/2voviyCpwB
“[Y]ou literally could not have picked a worse time,” X user Jarvis snipped.
you literally could not have picked a worse time. https://t.co/8dtafkuwox
“There’s an opportunity here for a fantastic candidate profile in Vanity Fair, and I know just the person to write it,” the National Review’s Jeff Blehar needled.
Nuzzi briefly joined Vanity Fair as its West Coast Editor, but parted ways late last year.
There's an opportunity here for a fantastic candidate profile in Vanity Fair, and I know just the person to write it. https://t.co/PgelR4zfYx
“[L]ove that this guy is leading with the family man angle,” Just the News’ Jerry Dunleavy swiped.
love that this guy is leading with the family man angle https://t.co/OnR9qeUa97
South Carolina’s primary is slated for June 9.
Sanford is facing off against a very crowded field with about a dozen candidates in the Republican primary.
