Sanford wins comeback race with about 54 % of the vote . The former Republican governor of South Carolina , whose political career was left for dead along the Appalachian Trail after an extramarital affair , asked for , and Tuesday received , political redemption as he won a special election to fill a vacant House seat that he once occupied . Sanford wins all five counties in the district , while Busch wins absentees . Colbert Busch tried to make Sanford 's extramarital affair an issue in race . Sanford tried to tie Colbert Busch to national candidates , including Nancy Pelosi .
Sanford wins comeback race with about 54 % of the vote . Sanford wins all five counties in the district , while Busch wins absentees . Colbert Busch tried to make Sanford 's extramarital affair an issue in race . Sanford tried to tie Colbert Busch to national candidates , including Nancy Pelosi .