Mark Sanford, the former Republican governor of South Carolina and ex-congressman, officially ended his campaign Thursday to reclaim his old House seat, shifting his focus to a national nonprofit aimed at tackling the soaring national debt.
The 65-year-old, who entered the race for the state's 1st Congressional District on March 30, said in a statement that he will instead launch a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization and grassroots movement. "After a lot of thought, I've concluded that the most effective way I can contribute right now is not by seeking office, but by helping build a broader movement focused on the country's financial future," Sanford said.
The move comes as the national debt has ballooned to more than $38.9 trillion, according to the Treasury Department, including over $31.2 trillion held by the public. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projected in February that the federal deficit will rise from $1.9 trillion this fiscal year to $3.1 trillion by 2036, pushing the deficit as a share of GDP from 5.8 percent to 6.7 percent.
Sanford argued that lasting fiscal change requires pressure from outside Washington. "Technical changes come from within Washington, but to do more of that on the debt issue is to rearrange chairs on the Titanic," he said. "It will take public pressure to bring lasting change."
The seat Sanford sought is currently held by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), who is running in the GOP primary for governor and not seeking a fourth term. A crowded field of candidates from both parties has already emerged to succeed her, making the race highly competitive.
Sanford first represented the district from 1995 to 2001, then served as governor from 2003 to 2011, and returned to Congress from 2013 to 2019. He also mounted a short-lived primary challenge to President Trump in 2020, dropping out before any votes were cast.
His exit from the House race mirrors other recent political departures, such as Maine Gov. Janet Mills ending her Senate bid due to fundraising challenges, as reported by The World Signal. Meanwhile, the broader political landscape remains volatile, with ongoing redistricting battles across Southern states following a Supreme Court ruling.
Sanford's new nonprofit intends to build a nationwide grassroots network aimed at changing the country's fiscal trajectory. "The trajectory of debt and deficits isn't a Republican problem or a Democrat problem—it's an American problem," he emphasized.
