Mark Sanford is an American politician who served as the Governor of South Carolina from 2003 to 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party and was a U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 1st congressional district from 2013 to 2019. Sanford is known for his focus on fiscal conservatism and limited government. During his tenure as governor, Sanford faced controversy in 2009 when he disappeared for several days, later revealing he had traveled to Argentina to visit a woman. This incident led to significant media attention and ultimately contributed to his decision not to seek re-election as governor.