

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
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
Live5News 2026 Congressional forum
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.
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