Note : Sanford 's wife appeared with him during his acceptance speech . Mark Sanford lost a Republican primary runoff for a congressional seat . The South Carolina governor said he was looking for forgiveness when he began his bid for the congressional seat he held from 1995 to 2001 . His political career was thought to have ended in 2009 when he admitted to an affair . Sanford has been pitching himself as a fiscal conservative and pushing for redemption .
Note : Sanford 's wife appeared with him during his acceptance speech . Mark Sanford lost a Republican primary runoff for a congressional seat . His political career was thought to have ended in 2009 when he admitted to an affair . Sanford has been pitching himself as a fiscal conservative and pushing for redemption .