Mark Sanford drops congressional bid to launch nationwide debt nonprofit

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Mark Sanford, the previous Republican South Carolina governor and congressman, is abandoning his newest run to reclaim his former seat only a month after saying his candidacy.

As a substitute, he'll launch a nonprofit devoted to addressing the nationwide debt.

Sanford, 65, instructed The Related Press on Thursday that he's shuttering his campaign to concentrate on combating the debt and deficit.

"After a whole lot of thought, I’ve concluded that the simplest method I can contribute proper now is just not by searching for workplace, however by serving to construct a broader motion centered on the nation’s monetary future," he mentioned in a information launch. "The trajectory of debt and deficits isn’t a Republican downside or a Democrat downside—it’s an American downside. And it’s one which calls for sustained grassroots strain for change to happen."

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Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford is proven in a 2019 picture. He was accused by a political reporter's ex-fiancé of an alleged romantic involvement. (Sean Rayford/Getty Photos)

The group will function as a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) and can concentrate on constructing a nationwide grassroots community geared toward shifting the nation’s present monetary course. Sanford famous that along with his first grandchild on the way in which, he additionally realized he wished to spend extra time along with his household.

The choice got here one month after Sanford entered the first on the ultimate submitting day to reclaim his former Home seat.

Sanford beforehand served three phrases in Congress earlier than serving as Governor of South Carolina. Nevertheless, his tenure was overshadowed by a 2009 scandal by which he disappeared to Argentina to go to a mistress; on the time, neither his workers nor his spouse knew his whereabouts.

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Gov. Mark Sanford speaks onstage throughout the 2019 Politicon at Music Metropolis Middle in Nashville, Tenn., on Oct. 26, 2019. On Thursday, Sanford introduced the ending of his congressional marketing campaign in favor of beginning a nonprofit to deal with the nationwide debt. (Jason Kempin/Getty Photos)

Whereas Sanford survived impeachment makes an attempt and resisted calls to resign, his spouse, Jenny Sanford, moved out of the governor’s mansion, relocated to the household’s beachfront house with their 4 sons, and later sued for divorce.

Sanford finally gained again his previous seat in a 2013 particular election, defeating 15 different candidates. He served two full phrases earlier than dropping his 2018 major to a GOP challenger backed by then-President Donald Trump .

His former seat is presently held by Republican Rep. Nancy Mace .

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As of Tuesday, the nationwide debt stands at greater than $38.9 trillion, in keeping with the Treasury Division. That features greater than $31.2 trillion in debt held by the general public and over $7.6 trillion in intragovernmental holdings.

"Our nation's crumbling monetary course is what led me to enter this race, and it is what’s animated my time in politics," Sanford mentioned. "I need to make a distinction right here, and as I started to get again into the world of politics, it actually started to hit me how all of Washington's main modifications have come on account of exterior strain."