The battle to succeed newly-appointed Sen. Tim Scott (R) takes on immediate national attention with the likely political return of Sanford, now infamous for an ill-fated disappearance from the state for several days that culminated in a dramatic reveal that he was having an affair with an Argentine woman.
Filing in the 1st District doesn’t even open until January 18 and closes just ten days later, making it a difficult sprint for anyone -- and drawing in some top flight consultants restless for work in the off year. But the open seat has already attracted a wide, diverse cast of characters, aside from Sanford, who represented the district for six years before being elected governor.