Mark Sanford Celebrates SC1 Victory With Fiancée Maria Chapur

CHARLESTON — Mark Sanford, the once-governor with a bright future in the Republican Party in front of him, has returned to political prominence.

With a 57-43 victory over Curtis Bostic Tuesday in the GOP runoff for the first Congressional District, Sanford will face Elizabeth Colbert Busch in early May to regain his former seat.

But it was the woman by his side on Tuesday night that drew even more comments.

Maria Chapur, Sanford's fiancee and former mistress, stood by the man who left the country four years ago to visit her while staffers told the press he was "hiking the Appalachian Trail."

Chapur made her first appearance on the campaign Tuesday, standing behind Sanford as he declared victory. He thanked her in his comments and she reluctantly joined him on-stage.

The campaign would not comment if she would make further appearances on the campaign trail with the former governor over the next five weeks.

Chapur and Sanford, who has since been divorced from his wife Jenny, are now engaged.