Tonight voters in the 1st Congressional District chose former Governor Mark Sanford as their Republican candidate to continue the fight for conservative principles in Congress.

Chad Connelly, Chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party, issued the following statement:

“I want to congratulate Mark Sanford on winning today’s 1st Congressional District runoff. I am proud of both Governor Sanford and Curtis Bostic for conducting themselves with such dignity during the process. Our voters recognize the importance of keeping a Republican in this seat, and are united in sending Mark Sanford to Congress.”

“Voters in the 1st District are smart–they know that ‘businesswoman’ and ‘centrist’ are political spin used to mask LuLu Colbert-Busch’s real record as an overpaid liberal educrat who is out of touch with Lowcountry values. Just as they rejected Barack Obama by almost 20% in 2012, Lowcountry voters will reject liberal darling and Obama-disciple Colbert-Busch in 2013.”

“Washington, DC needs conservative leaders like Mark Sanford now more than ever and we look forward to sending him back to Congress.”