Mark Sanford

Republican | South Carolina

Candidate Profile

BIOGRAPHY

Name

Mark Sanford


Party

Republican


Election Year

2026


Election

Republican Primary


Race

U.S. Representative, District 1


Incumbent

No


Links

Mark Sanford websites FacebookXInstagram

EDUCATION

Furman University, Greenville, Bachelor of Arts in Business, 1979-1983

University of Virginia's Darden School of Business, Charlottesville, Master of Business Administration, -1988

WORK & MILITARY

United States Air Force, Captain, 2003-2013

AFFILIATIONS

(Candidate did not provide)

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

Governor, 2003-2011

US House, 1995-2001

US House, 2013-2019

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

US House, 2026-

SCORECARDS

CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS


LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (4)

Kevin McCarthy (2023)

Club for Growth (2018)

State Republican Party Organizations (2018)

Katrina Shealy (2008)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (44)

American Principles (2018)

Club for Growth (2018)

Dominion Energy PAC (2018)

House Freedom Fund (2018)

Innovation PAC (2018)


LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (2)

National Air Traffic Controllers Association (2018)

Independent Voice (2014)

OTHER INFORMATION

QUESTIONNAIRE

RIGHT TO LIFE

Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.

Strongly Agree

The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.

Strongly Agree

Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?

Rape, incest or life of the mother.

Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).

Strongly Disagree

The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.

Agree


ECONOMY

Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.

Strongly Agree

People who can afford to pay more taxes should do so in order to provide relief for working families.

Choose not to answer

They already do. Our system is progressive. I'm against special favor legislative loop holes, like the carried interest which allows someone like Warren Buffett to pay less in taxes than his secretary.

The government should cut spending in order to reduce the national debt.

Strongly Agree

List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.

Improve payments in major entitlement programs. Duplicative government programs, something I saw a lot of in South Carolina state government. Defense procurement needs tightening. Sell unused federal property, again something we did when I was Governor.


RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.

Strongly Disagree

What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?

It means the state cannot control the church, and it is free to operate without government interference.


HEALTHCARE

What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.

B) We need to transition to a more market based system. Presently our medical system rewards billing more than outcomes.

The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.

Strongly Disagree


NATIONAL SECURITY

With regard to America's foreign policy, which view most closely resembles yours: A) The United States should intervene whenever freedom is threatened. B) The United States should selectively help countries trying to grow democracy and fight tyranny. C) The United States has become too involved in others' policies and should remain focused on issues regarding our own sovereignty unless in imminent danger. D) The United States should stay out of foreign conflicts completely.

C)

The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.

Strongly Agree

Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?

It is. They are a strategic ally in a very hostile part of the world.

Islamic terrorism is a threat to the United States' national security.

Strongly Agree


IMMIGRATION

Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?

We presently allow over 1 million people to immigrate and I think this number should be reduced and reconfigured from household reformation to focus on the labor needs of our country.

I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.

Strongly Disagree


EDUCATION

I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.

Strongly Agree

Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.

Strongly Agree


VALUES

Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.

Agree

Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.

Agree

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

I am a Christian who values Christ's atonement, redemption and grace. I believe in the parable of the talents and that each of us will be called into account for doing what we can to honor God and bring light into the world.


ELECTIONS AND VOTING

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Strongly Disagree


EQUALITY

Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.

Strongly Agree


ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?

Nuclear for base load is actually the most reliable. I am open to alternatives but they will not provide base load capacity.


ABOUT YOU

Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.

No

Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.

No

When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?

Very Conservative


CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY

Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.

Strongly Agree


2ND AMENDMENT

What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?

No sale to people convicted of crime, or minors, other than this I don't think we should encumber the 2nd amendment.

If you are not already receiving our emails, stay up to date with important election alerts, educational articles, and encouraging reminders.

I agree to receive text messages at the phone number provided.