Mark Sanford announces candidacy for Senate seat in South Carolina

Former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford has announced his candidacy for the special Republican primary election to fill the Senate seat previously held by the late Lindsey Graham. Sanford is one of several candidates, including Darline Graham Nordone, Graham's sister and the current caretaker of the seat. In his announcement, Sanford emphasized concerns about national debt and government spending, stating, "Our ability to afford things, inflation, and the way people struggle to build a life are but symptoms of spending beyond our means as a country." Sanford has previously served in Congress and as governor, and he has expressed worries about the economic implications of increasing national debt. Following Graham's death on July 11, Governor Henry McMaster appointed Nordone to serve the remainder of his term. The special primary election is scheduled for August 11, with the winner facing Democratic candidate Dr. Annie Andrews in November.