Former Governor of South Carolina Mark Sanford advanced in for South Carolina's First Congressional District, according to the New York Times.
Sanford received the most votes in the Republican primary, which included a field of 16 candidates.
This is the first step on the road to redemption for Sanford. He is infamous for his extramarital affair, which he tried to cover up with a story about a hike in the Appalachians.
The results of the first race shows South Carolina is a forgiving state.
"Repentance works better in the South Carolina Upcountry, where it's more evangelical," said Jack Bass, according to the Times.
Bass is the author of many books about South Carolina politics and Sen. Strom Thurmond.
Despite his significant progress, Sanford still has a ways to go before becoming the outright Republican nominee for the available seat in Congress. Since Sanford only won 37 percent of the votes, he will have to face another Republican candidate in a run-off. At this point, it's not clear who that will be.
Finishing after Sanford was Curtis Bostic, who received 13 percent of the vote. Bostic is a former member of the Charleston County Council. Former state Sen. Larry Grooms finished with 12 percent of the vote. There will most likely be a recount.
Teddy Turner, son of Turner Broadcasting owner Ted Turner, added to the drama of the race but finished with eight percent of the vote.
On the Democratic side of the race, things weren't so close. Elizabeth Colbert Busch, sister of TV personality Stephen Colbert, finished with a majority of the vote at 58 percent.
According to the Times, the race for congress could create something many thought would never happen "a chance for a conservative district in a very red state to send a Democrat to Congress."
