SOUTH CAROLINA SPECIAL ELECTION COVERAGE

Follow live results here courtesy of POLITICO.

Former South Carolina governor Mark Sanford has defeated Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch in a special election in South Carolina's 1st Congressional District. The win caps a political comeback for Sanford, a Republican, who made national headlines in 2009 after admitting to an extramarital affair with Maria Belen Chapur, now his fiancée. With 100% of precincts reporting in South Carolina, Sanford leads 77,251 to 64,413 over Colbert Busch (54-45%).

8:30 - We can now project that former Governor Mark Sanford has defeated Elizabeth Colbert Busch in the South Carolina Special Election.

8:25 - With over half of precincts now in, it's a 9-point Sanford lead over Colbert Busch.

8:12 - With 33% of the precincts reporting Governor Mark Sanford leads Elizabeth Colbert Busch 51% - 48%.

SOUTH CAROLINA SPECIAL ELECTION – At the top of the 7 PM (ET) hour polls will be closed in the Special Election in South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District between former Republican Governor Mark Sanford and Democratic challenger Elizabeth Colbert Busch.